Britain is getting a new passport colour after Brexit and people's minds are totally blown

2025-04-28 12:16:12admin

Brexit has claimed another victim, and this time it's a rather surprising one—our passport's colour.

The UK government has announced that after the UK leaves the European Union, UK passports will be changing from "the standard burgundy colour" to a "blue and gold design."

The travel doc makeover—which the government says is "A move to symbolise or national identity"— will cost £500 million ($669 million). Money well spent? Errr....

SEE ALSO: Facebook is not afraid of Brexit, creates 800 new jobs in the UK

"Leaving the EU gives us a unique opportunity to restore our national identity and forge a new path for ourselves in the world," Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said in an official statement.

"That is why I am delighted to announce that the British passport will be returning to the iconic blue and gold design after we have left the European Union in 2019," he continued.

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

The blue cover, per the statement, is a return to the "original appearance" of the British passport and the colour blue was "first used in 1921." "It remained the colour of choice until the UK joined the EU and the burgundy common format colour was agreed and adopted," reads the statement.

Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper The Sunclaimed victory for the change. The Brexit-backing paper had been campaigning for it for 17 months. "I hope Sunreaders will agree this is a clear visual step in regaining our sense of sovereignty and standing tall in the world as a proud, independent Britain once more," read an editorial.

The move isn't proving terribly popular on Twitter, with many wondering why the government is spending such a substantial amount of money on such a thing.