Britannist

Britannist

Brief edited extract from the Mail on Sunday article on the link given in the last posting to this thread: "Britons are to be asked to put a sticker proclaiming the rights of European Union "nationals" on the back cover of their passports. Foreign Office officials last night said the Government was "positive" about the proposals and diplomats were finalising details such as the look of the stickers and how they would be distributed. Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said Ministers should tell the EU to mind its own business."

Westcountryman

It's not really a British passport any more is it, it's really an EU passport.

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Britannist

Yes, the very un-British and un-English Burgundy colour of it says that doesn't it.

I put my Passport in a large holder which has the words United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the front and no reference to the hated EU. For those reading this who want one of those British Passport holders - they are available from stalls on street markets and from the excellent glossy colour magazine This England at:

This England, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1YQ.

Telephone 01242 515151.

Britannist

Duplicate posting.

komerad

Britannist - I bought one of these passport holders (gold coloured) last year, LOOKS GOOD !! but arriving back in Bristol last Jan we were told to remove passports from the holders *before* passing through customs.
CAN'T WIN

Britannist

Sorry to read, Komerad, that you were asked to remove your Passport from its British cover.

So you were asked to separate your Passport from its British cover at customs here in the UK while, it seems, elsewhere illegal immigrants are managing to get into our country without having Passports at all.

One of the advantages of having a hardback British cover for the Passport is that it stops the flimsy Burgundy-coloured Passport 'booklet' from getting worn.

The Bear

There are so many stolen passports around now that there is a need to examine the document closely especially the rear to make sure that the real photo has not been cut out and replaced. That is why the passport needs to be handed over sans folder.

As for the EU sticker, a really good idea, especially as the British overseas representation is so awful.

Especially in the more remote regions a person will get better treatment, representation, and help from a French or especially a German embassy official than from a useless British representative.

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Ea of Dune

Why wasn't I surprised you would say that...

You don't need a sticker to do that though do you, I'm pretty sure the diplomats and foreign service of other EU countries are aware of who is in the EU, especially as our passports already say EUSSR on the cover..
Your comment with regards to other EU embassy officials compared to our own is un-quantafiable to be honest! I doubt very much you have been round the world comparing the services in remote regions of each EU country compared to our own.
Even if you had this would mean little as you would be only one case, which would hardly be enough to be considered a fair test.

Ea of dune

Westcountryman

I can't comment on the quality of consular services abroad, having never had to use them. However, I do know someone who works in British embassies and consulates abroad, and from what I've heard a lot of the people approach them with unrealistic expectations of the kind of help they're going to get.

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the cake is a lie.
the cake is a lie.
the cake is a lie.
the cake is a lie.