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.
Labour secures urgent Commons question on passports
Labour has secured a debate on the Passport Office in the Commons at 10.30 this morning, after Speaker John Bercow granted an urgent question to the Home Office from shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.
The briefing note, posted on The Guardian website, allows staff to drop checks on counter-signatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the briefing showed the Government was in denial about the state of the crisis.
"This is seriously chaotic," she told The Guardian.
"If this is what the Prime Minister meant by getting a grip with the situation, he needs to think again."
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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".