Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Gorton in Greater Manchester, says he ‘may have broken Boris Johnson’ after grilling the PM on passport waiting times.
During yesterday’s PMQs, the Prime Minster was seen grimacing as Mr Khan addressed him over the the long turnaround times for passports.
The politician said that he had also received a late-night ‘angry letter’ from Home Secretary Priti Patel, accusing him of ‘scaremongering’.
Travellers are currently being advised to allow up to 10 weeks for new passports to be processed, owing to a surge in demand for international travel after the pandemic.
Labour MP for Gorton, Afzal Khan, discussing passport wait times at PMQs. Credit: Parliament TV
The Passport Office has insisted that there is ‘no backlog in passport processing’ but that there has been an ‘unprecedented demand’ for British passports now that travel restrictions have been lifted.
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Mr Khan began his address to the House of Commons by saying: “Mr Speaker, I’d have more sympathy for the words ‘Get on with the job’ if it had actually started in the first place,” a statement that was greeted with laughter.
He then said: “Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister told the House: ‘To the best of my knowledge, everybody is getting their passport within four to six weeks.’
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“However, the passport office is currently quoting a 10 week service time, with many of my constituents waiting well over that period.
“Cancelled summer trips could cost families over £1bn. Does the PM accept that the passport office backlog is placing additional pressure on families already struggling with the cost of living crisis?”
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Mr Johnson insisted that 91% of people are receiving their passports within six weeks, and that hundreds more staff are helping the Passport Office to catch up with demand.
He added that the huge demand is a sign of ‘the robustness of the economy’.
Labour MP for Gorton Afzal Khan at PMQs. Credit: Parliament TV
Sharing a clip of their exchange in the Commons, the Gorton MP said: “I think I may have broken @BorisJohnson.”
He later posted: “I clearly cut too close to the bone with my question on passport delays yesterday because at half past ten last night @pritipatel sent me an angry letter accusing me of scaremongering ¯_(ツ)_/¯”
The Passport Office advises: “We urge people who need a new passport to apply for one as soon as possible to ensure their passport arrives in time for the peak summer season. We do offer urgent services for applicants who need a passport more quickly. However, in busy periods these are booked quickly.
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“Customers can also help to ensure there are no delays with their application, such as using a high quality photo with a digital code, applying online and applying for a new passport more than 10 weeks before they are due to travel.
“And it is important to stress, you should not book travel until you have a valid passport – your new passport will not have the same passport number as your old one.”
Featured image: Parliament TV
UK News
The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Two incredible locals are running all the way from Rochdale to London for a deeply touching cause
Danny Jones
This April, our eyes will be firmly focused on ‘Project240’: the incredible charity challenge being taken on by two inspiring Greater Manchester natives that will see them run all the way to London for a cause very close to their hearts.
And once they’re there, they’ve got one last rather big run to get done, too.
Project240 is being taken on by locals Alex and James, who will be running (you guessed it) 240 miles from Rochdale all the way to the capital before then taking on the 2026 London Marathon.
Staggering stuff, we’re sure you’ll agree, but it becomes an even more moving story when you find out why they’re doing it.
Taking on multiple ultras split across stages on behalf of Springhill Hospice in their hometown, this pair of lads will be cramming in the remarkable distance into less than a week.
More importantly, they’re also hoping to reach a seriously impressive and significant fundraising target of £26,000 for the facility to mark the year and in honour of one very important person.
For anyone unaware of their story, the duo are running in memory of Alex’s father, Darren, who was sadly diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) at the age of 45 back in 2021.
In an effort to give back to the organisation that did so much for his dad and raise more awareness around MND, they’ll be spreading the five ultra-marathons and this year’s major London race across six days, as well as facing the shared struggle head-on with Darren in their thoughts as always.
He sadly passed away on 23 January 2020, spending just a single precious night at the Hospice – one that has left a lasting impression on their family, with Alex saying simply, “I don’t know what we would have done without Springhill Hospice.”
Credit: Supplied
He went on to add: “The care given to my dad and our family was incredible, which made the most traumatic time of our lives that little bit easier.
“Springhill Hospice is a pillar of our community, and we need to do everything we can to keep the doors open.” We couldn’t agree more; both Alex and James have our utmost admiration for what they’re about to take on, and we wish them all the best.
The route – which they will begin on Tuesday, 21 April and are scheduled to complete the following Sunday – will take them from the old Lancashire town, through Buxton, Ashbourne, Hinckley, Old Stratford, before making it all the way to Greenwich and finally London.
Last but not least, you can donate to the fundraiser right HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
9th June 2022 
