John calls on Government to clean up passport chaos
John Healey has called on the Home Secretary to clean up the passport chaos as local people turn to him for help.
The Wentworth and Dearne MP has received about 20 enquiries within the last week and new problems are being raised with him every day.
He said: “Most people are just a few days from their travel date and worried they won’t receive their passport in time. People are anxious about missing big family holidays they have looked forward to for months, school trips and in one case a funeral.
“I have helped several thankful families negotiate their way through the system and receive their passports in time.
“But sometimes they have had to drive for hours to Durham to collect their passport, or the passport has arrived just hours before they have to set off.
“One Wath family’s passports arrived too late and they were forced to re-book flights for their holiday, which cost them £200.
“One mum told me she’s spent £60 on phone calls chasing her son’s passport, another woman said she daren’t leave the house in case she misses a phone call.
“This is a very difficult and stressful situation, so I am working with anyone who is facing delays and problems as a matter of urgency.
“It is totally unfair that hard-working people are panicked and distressed when they have saved hard for a well-earned break.”
Mr Healey has written to Theresa May calling on her to clear up the mess and explain what will be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
He also said she should apologise for the stress, worry and inconvenience people are being put through, and said the Government should recompense those who have had to pay an extra £55 to fast track their applications.
Mr Healey added: “Despite warnings of this crisis months ago, the Government has been in total denial about the chaos they have created over the passport backlog.”