The government must reverse its decision to ship the production of
the UK’s new iconic passport to France, Britain’s largest union,
Unite said today (Thursday 22 March) after it emerged the British
firm De La Rue would no longer produce UK passports after 2019.
Accusing government ministers of betraying UK workers, Unite
said attempts to blame European Union procurement rules for the
decision was a smokescreen because France produces its own
passports citing national security....Request free trial
The government must reverse its decision to ship the production of
the UK’s new iconic passport to France, Britain’s largest union,
Unite said today (Thursday 22 March) after it emerged the British
firm De La Rue would no longer produce UK passports after 2019.
Accusing government ministers of betraying UK workers, Unite said
attempts to blame European Union procurement rules for the decision
was a smokescreen because France produces its own passports citing
national security.
Vowing to fight the decision to secure UK jobs Unite national
officer Louisa Bull said: “ and need to explain to De La Rue
workers why ‘taking back control’ means their jobs could be put at
risk while the production of Britain’s new iconic passport is
shipped overseas to France.
“It wouldn’t happen in France because of national security and it
shouldn’t happen in the UK. De La Rue is the UK’s leading security
printer making bank notes as well as passports sustaining thousands
of decent jobs in the UK.
“Ministers need to reverse this decision and start supporting
British business and UK workers through public procurement and an
industrial strategy which is more than just soundbites.”
