Workers in Passport Offices across the country are walking out today in the first of five-weeks planned strike action.
More than 1,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at eight Passport Office sites around the UK – including at North West bases in Liverpool and Southport – are walking out as part of a long-running and bitter civil service dispute with the government over jobs, pay, pensions, and working conditions.
It’s expected that picket lines will be outside the offices in London, Glasgow, Durham, Peterborough, and Newport, as well as in Liverpool and Southport.
Strikes by Passport Office workers over the next month or so come ahead of the planned nationwide walkout of more than 130,000 civil servants on 28 April – with the PCS union saying that all those taking part in the industrial action will be supported by a strike fund.
The Home Office said more than 2.7 million passport applications have already been processed this year, and confirmed that over 99.7% of standard applications are being processed within the 10-week official guidance period,
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The majority of those passport applications were processed and delivered to customers under this timescale, the Home Office said.
Passport Office workers begin five-week strikes over pay and pensions / Credit: PCS Union (via Twitter)
But despite this, news that strike action was to be taken by Passport Office staff has inevitably lead to tourists being warned of expected disruption to passport services throughout the Easter holidays, and other peak Bank Holiday weekends over the next two months.
Ahead of strikes beginning today, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka says he has written to the government calling for urgent talks in a bid to resolve the dispute, and accused ministers of treating its own employees differently to others in the public sector.
However, nothing has been resolved as of yet.
Featured Image – GOV.UK
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Peter Kay announces four intimate charity shows in Greater Manchester – but only for these postcodes
Emily Sergeant
Peter Kay has just announced four intimate shows to raise money for a very worthy cause… but you can only get tickets if you live in these particular postcodes.
Comedy legend Peter Kay is set to return home to the Bolton Albert Halls for four very special hometown shows in this summer, marking his first performances at the venue more than two decades.
Taking to the very stage where he recorded the UK’s biggest-selling stand-up DVD, it’s set to be a proper nostalgic homecoming for one of Britain’s most beloved comedians.
The summer shows – which are taking place from 9 – 11 July 2026, even including a matinee performance – this is a rare chance for local fans to be part of something incredibly special, with all funds raised going to Bolton Hospice.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… you’ll only be able to get tickets if you live in Bolton (and some parts of Bury), as it’s strictly limited to BL postcodes.
Peter Kay Live at the Bolton Albert Halls – 2026 Dates
Thursday 9 July (Evening)
Friday 10 July (Evening)
Saturday 11 July (Matinee)
Saturday 11 July (Evening)
Tickets officially go on sale Friday 24 April at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd April 2023 
