Holidaymakers set to see significant increase in passport cost
Holidaymakers in the UK have been hit with an inflation busting increase in the cost of a passport which will rise 7% to £77.50 in September this year. The cost of a children's passport will increase by £3 to £49 adding yet more expense to the cost of travelling overseas. When you consider that prior to the Labour government taking power the cost of an adult passport was just £18, it would appear that the government has found a new and lucrative income stream.
Figures from the Home Office suggest that 400,000 less people than expected applied for a passport during 2008 and the figure is unlikely to increase substantially during 2009. However, opposition parties believe that the increased cost of a UK passport is being used to offset the billions of pounds spent on the disastrous ID card idea which has been demoted from a "must have document" to a voluntary arrangement.
While this is a trait not unique to the Labour government, politicians over time have used everyday expenses such as fuel and passports to milk UK taxpayers for yet more money. When you also consider that the cost of a fast-track adult passport application will increase by 15% to £112.50 this really does show how UK taxpayers are being made to pay the price for excessive government spending.
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