This report in
The Guardian
British citizens using biometric passports to travel this summer will be confronted by longer queues than before at UK borders, despite promises from Brexiters that leaving the EU will make travel easier for Britons.
A Home Office analysis seen by the Guardian has concluded that changes announced by Philip Hammond on Wednesday, which allow citizens from seven other countries including the US to use e-passports to travel through Britain, will slow down UK citizens’ journey times.
The chancellor said in his spring statement that the government would allow citizens of the US, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea to use e-passport gates. They currently have to fill in paper landing cards and present them to a border official, while passengers from the UK, EU, EEA and Switzerland are able to use biometric passports.
Leaked documents show that government officials examined the effect of these changes earlier this year and concluded there would be a small but significant impact on waiting times for UK citizens.