People in Britain are losing their minds over the new blue passports

British passport.
(Image credit: iStock)

What are red and black and blue all over? The British passports, depending on what era you're looking at. The new color of the passport, though, is dividing the nation after Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis' announcement Friday that the official documents will change from the current burgundy to "iconic" blue and gold next year as the nation leaves the European Union.

The navy passports were first used in 1921 and discontinued around 1988, The Guardian reports. The decision to shift back to the blue passport represents a victory for Brexit supporters. Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, for one, has complained of "the humiliation of having a pink European Union passport," explaining in April that "the restoration of our own British passport is a clear statement to the world that Britain is back."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.