Home Office: some passport interviews suspended

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.

First-time adult applicants who have booked interviews at HM Passport Office's Globe House in Victoria are being directed to other offices in South East England so staff can concentrate on fast-track renewals.

A Home Office spokeswoman said it was normal practice during busy times and that only a "handful" of people had been affected.

"It is standard practice. It is nothing out of the ordinary. It happened last year," she said.

David Cameron disclosed earlier this week that there were up to 30,000 applications delayed by backlog.