The company that makes the current EU-style British passport is to take the Government to court over its decision to award the post-Brexit contract to a Franco-Dutch firm.

Passports issued after the UK leaves the European Union will be blue and gold rather than the EU burgundy colour.

Basingstoke-based manufacturer De La Rue, which makes the current document, admits its bid is higher than its continental rival, but insists its product is the "highest quality and technically most secure" option.

Ministers say awarding the contract to Gemalto will save taxpayers around £120 million.

:: UK passport firm demands an explanation


A De La Rue spokesman said: "We confirm that we are taking the first steps towards initiating appeal proceedings against the provisional decision to award the British passport contract to a part state-owned Franco-Dutch company.

"Based on our knowledge of the market, it's our view that ours was the highest quality and technically most secure bid.

We can accept that we weren't the cheapest, even if our tender represented a significant discount on the current price.

"It has also been suggested that the winning bid was well below our cost price, which causes us to question how sustainable it is.

"In the light of this, we are confident that we remain the best and securest option in the national interest."

New passports 'shouldn't be made on the cheap'

Downing Street sought to play down tensions by announcing an extra "standstill" period of two weeks, at the request of De La Rue.

Theresa May's spokesman said: "The Government's preferred bidder was the one which best met the needs of passport services and gave the best offer on cost, quality and security.

"The standstill process is to allow all bidders time to decide if they want to take legal action."

In December, the Government announced the passport would revert to the blue design first used in 1921.

At the time Theresa May said it was an "expression of our independence and sovereignty".