Has anybody tried getting a colour photocopy of all the pages of a passport certified by a lawyer, and then sending that with a covering letter to HM Passport Office instead ? Especially when a person has a good reason for being unable to use the 1 week (or 1 day) fast-track services that HMPO offers in person, and can prove they are a frequent business traveller ?
I believe HMPO are reluctant to be seen as preventing British citizens from being able to work commercially if travel is part of their job