Brexit: Blue passport may actually be reintroduced once Britain leaves EU

Home Office hints that it is considering the idea

British passports were blue before machine-readable EU passports were introduced in 1988 (Getty/iStock)

The Home Office has hinted that old-style blue British passports could make a comeback if the UK leaves the European Union.

The colour of UK citizens’ travel documents has been the subject of intense debate since the country voted for Brexit on 23 June.

Responding to a written question from Conservative MP Julian Knight the Home Office said it was looking into alternative designs for the passport after it is no longer required to be red in line with other EU countries.

Home Office minister Robert Goodwill said: "We are considering potential changes to the UK passport after the UK has left the European Union.

"At this early stage we have not undertaken a detailed cost benefit analysis or made any decisions about what a future UK passport might look like."

Mr Knight hailed the comments as a clear shift in position.

He said: "The blue passport is a symbol of our independence as a strong, proud nation.

"I think this is a clear shift in position. I am very pleased to see that my calls and those of other MPs seem to be having an effect and that officials are now looking at the prospect of reintroducing this great symbol of our independence and our nation."

His comments echoed the call of outgoing Ukip leader Nigel Farage and several Brexit MPs who wanted to see blue passports - which were first introduced in 1921- brought back.

Unlike Mr Farage and many Conservatives, Mr Knight backed remaining in the EU and campaigned for the Stronger In side but believes now the public has voted they show take the opportunity to revert to how things were.

He said: "There are many people who missed the original blue passport - they like the feel, the look of it - and now we have voted to leave the European Union it seems to be a good time to review when we should introduce our own passport.

"I don't see any additional problems or extra cost from changing the colour of the passport, but clearly we can't put on the front of the passport that we are a member of the European Union, because we won't be soon.

"I just think it would be a symbol of our independence as a country and accepting a new era."

Blue was replaced with burgundy in 1988 after a machine readable version of the passport was first introduced at Glasgow airport.

In the last days of the campaign, Mr Farage used his passport as a prop while arguing for the UK to leave the EU.

He said: “This should be a British passport; it says ‘European Union’ on it.

“I think to make this country safer, we need to get back British passports, so that we can check anybody else coming into this country.”