Some passport interviews suspended amid backlog
Interviews for first-time applicants for passports have been suspended in London as staff struggle to deal with the 30,000 backlog of applications, the Home Office has said.
PM: Up to 30,000 passports delayed by backlog
Up to 30,000 passport applications have been hit by delays, David Cameron has said.
The Prime Minister insisted that hundreds of extra staff have been drafted in and new offices are being opened in Liverpool next week in to help tackle the backlog.
Ed Miliband called on the premier to "get a grip" as he warned that thousands of people face cancelled holidays as a result of the problems.
But Mr Cameron accused the Labour leader of trying to "frighten people".
He said: "We have 300,000 extra applications than is normal at this time of year. We have increased massively the staff. The level of applications outside the normal three-week limit is less than 10% of that 300,000."
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How to fast-track your passport urgently for free
The Home Office has outlined how people who are facing delays to their passport renewal can get it fast-tracked for free.
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What you can do to speed up your passport application
If you are worried about your passport application not being ready ahead of your holidays, there are a few options available to you.
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Passport Office 'in blind panic' as 'backlog' revealed
Photos shown to ITV News appear to reveal the scale of the backlog at the Passport Office, amid staff claims of "blind panic".