Responding to the Public Accounts Committee Report showing that hundreds of thousands of passport applicants let down by unacceptable delays, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said:
The Government’s endless track record of incompetence is creating the perfect storm for holidaymakers. Families just trying get away are now being saddled with the misery of passport delays and what seem like eternal queues at Dover.
The Home Secretary should apologise to the countless families she has let down this Easter and get to grips with this shambles. Families should be able to relax instead of having their holidays ruined by bureaucratic failings inside the Home Office.
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5 Comments
What she should have said:
“Innocent holiday-makers should not be having to suffer as a result of the UK no longer being part of the European Union. The government knew that Brexit would result in longer delays at Dover and should have had measures in place to prepare for this. Ordinary families are now having to pay the price of this shocking incompetence.”
So here is my question – why did Wera chose to focus on the delays in getting passports rather than the delays at Dover? Was it because it allowed her a way of avoiding mentioning the EU/Brexit?
The delays at Dover aren’t caused by “ bureaucratic failings inside the Home Office.” but by the UK Government failing to fully appreciate an obvious ramification of the style of Brexit they chose.
However, I do have problems with getting overly excited about delays at the passport office as the same PAC report notes “ About 95% of applicants received their passports within 10 weeks.” At a volume 19% higher than in 2019. Additionally the report notes HMPO has had little success in getting people to apply early.
Personally if your passport is due to expire this year, you should be planning to renew now. Yes, I continued to use my unexpired passport only returning it once the new one had arrived. I suspect part of the problem is I’ve used the online system and received new (family and friends) passports within 10 days, which could lead some to think this is no real and thus renew in the few weeks before peak holiday time and thus self inflict problems.
Aside: if you have given up your driving licence it is worth renewing your passport; financial institutions like to see it when reinvesting monies for elderly people (especially those in a care home) – having a LPoA for Finance is not enough. Also if you were not born in the UK having a current UK passport stops any discussion about entitlement to UK care services…
Might part of the problem be lack of staff?
Might that problem be a result o austerity?
Might part of the problem be disaffected staff?
Might disaffected staff be , at least in part, due to inadequate pay?
Might any deficiencies in pay be due to austerity?
Oh yes austerity, that thing that was so popular with the Lib Dem backed Coalition Government.