‘Everybody’s getting their passport within four to six weeks’ says Boris Johnson

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The prime minister today caused uproar among would-be holidaymakers and the travel industry by claiming “everybody’s getting their passport within four to six weeks”. In response to a challenge about a “backlog of 500,000” passports from Sir Keir Starmer during prime minister’s questions, Boris Johnson said: “We’re massively increasing the speed with which the Passport Office delivers. “To the best of my knowledge, everybody’s getting their passport within four to six weeks.” HM Passport Office says applicants for renewals and new passports should allow 10 weeks for it to be processed. “The Passport Office's own guidance won't allow MPs to even contact them on behalf of our constituents until 10 weeks have passed.” A government spokesperson later clarified the situation, saying: “The latest figures show that over 90 per cent of applications have been completed within six weeks.