Brexit win or cringe? UK reacts to new blue passport NEWS / UNITED KINGDOM  Brexit United Kingdom European Union Europe, The UK adopted the burgundy passport upon joining the EU [Conservative Party] The UK has announced it will change the colour of its passports from the EU-associated burgundy currently in circulation to the pre-EU blue. British Prime Minister Theresa May made the announcement on Friday, promising the return of the "iconic" travel document by 2019. "The UK passport is an expression of our independence and sovereignty, symbolising our citizenship of a proud, great nation," she said in a tweet announcing the passport, which will also contain new security features to prevent forgery. The UK passport is an expression of independence and sovereignty – symbolising our citizenship of a prou great nation. That's why we have announced that the iconic #bluepass will return after we leave the Europe Union in 2019. conservatives.com/sharethefacts/… 12:49 PM - Dec 22, 2017 5,913 1,186 2,961 Theresa May @theresa_may Blue Passports The UK passport is an expression conservatives.com She added: "The iconic (blue passport) will return after we leave the European Union in 2019."

When Britain joined the EU, it adopted the burgundy coloured document in keeping with other member states, replacing the blue one, which had been adopted in 1921. Existing burgundy passports will continue to be valid until they expire. 'Tangible victory' After a year of gruelling negotiations with the EU, Brexit supporters are hailing the return of blue passports as a "victory". Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage called the move the "first, real, tangible" victory since the referendum to leave the EU in 2016. "In the 2016 referendum, we wanted our passports back. Now we've got them back," he wrote on Twitter. His joy was shared by others on Twitter, including Conservative MP James Cleverly, who wrote: "The new UK passport will be high tech, almost impossible to forge, have biometric data, polycarbonate pages, cost the same as the current ones but they’ll be a traditional dark blue. Result!!!" The new UK passport will be high tech, almost impossible to forge, have biometric data, polycarbonate pages, cost the same as the current ones but they’ll be a traditional dark blue. Result!!! thesun.co.uk/news/5192542/u… 12:29 AM - Dec 22, 2017 587 462 1,123 James Cleverly @JamesCleverly Others responded with embarrassment at the perceived trivial nature of the change, and concern about what they considered to be the more serious consequences of leaving the EU. 1) it could have always been blue so pretending it’s an anti EU ‘result’ is misleading 2) redesign costs money we don’t have, because you’re spending on unnecessary Brexit that will distract govt from things that could have solved real UK issues, with for no proven benefit. 8:41 AM - Dec 22, 2017 7 11 198 16h James Cleverly Replying to @melaniemackuk The passport needed updating anyway to incorporate new tech, and there is no additional cost makings it blue. If the colour doesn’t matter to you then don’t worry about it. For many people it matters, so why not give them something they like? Melanie Mack @melaniemackuk "This actually made me cringe with embarrassment. It sums up the tiny mindedness and misinformed thinking of #Brextremists," said a Twitter user with the name MakeBritainNiceAgain. A country that would spend £500m t change the colour of a passport whil children sleep on the streets is a co whose priorities are wholly out of wh independent.co.uk/news/uk/brexit… 9:55 AM - Dec 22, 2017 1,056 12,174 17,056 James Caan CBE @jamescaan £500 million plan to 'bring back bl The Home Office has confirmed it independent.co.uk Replying to @maxelltrotter and 4 others Yeah it only cost us 40 billions and travel and relocation restrictions, bargain. 9:18 AM - Dec 22, 2017 2 7 Fotis Saltaferis @Fsalt Responding to Farage, user Vinnie Cocozza wrote: "You know you could have just gone to (a pound shop) and bought a tasteful passport holder." The UK has until March 2019 to conclude negotiations to leave the EU. “Some people wanted blue passports” 1:07 AM - Dec 22, 2017 31 824 2,325 David Schneider @davidschneider Earlier this month, the UK and the EU agreed on Brexit terms, which included a settlement to be paid by Britain to the bloc that could reach 50bn pounds ($67bn). The blue passports might have to be imported. LOL (as the youngsters say) twitter.com/paullewismoney… 2:32 PM - Dec 22, 2017 279 2,053 4,936 Nicola Sturgeon @NicolaSturgeon Right-wing newspapers have criticised the government for conceding too much to the EU. Meanwhile, those against the departure have slammed May for pursuing a "hard Brexit", which would end freedom of movement between the UK and the EU, halt London's membership of the single market, and see its withdrawal from the customs union. In the coming year, the two sides will initiate talks on the UK's future relationship with the EU. This whole passport farageo is starting to make me feel kind of blue twitter.com/emma_forage/st … 1:55 PM - Dec 22, 2017