THE cost of a UK Passport is set to rocket by almost 20% later this month.

The price of a postal application for a passport will go up from £72.50 to £85 for new applications and renewals.

A child passport will rise from £46 to £58.50 and on line applications will increase by £3 on March 27.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15788921.UK_passports_set_for_major_makeover_as_Britain_prepares_to_leave_EU/

A Glasgow MP said the rises meant the cost of a passport has more than doubled since 2001.

Alison Thewliss SNP MP for Glasgow Central said the rise was unnecessary and excessive.

She said: “All this places an unacceptable burden on families at a time when household incomes are being squeezed more and more by Tory austerity.

“I am appalled by the increases in passport fees that the UK Government plans to usher in via statutory instrument later this month. Not only are these increases excessive, they are completely unnecessary, and I hope MPs will reject them.”

She said the increase will have an impact on democracy.

She added: “We also know that the UK Government will soon be trialling new laws requiring people to produce photographic ID before they can vote.

“If this is rolled out nationally, the effect will be to disenfranchise those who can’t afford the exorbitant cost of a passport, and don’t have alternative means of identification.”