Timely reminder public procurement rules still apply in the UK

It seems Gemalto, a French company has won the contract to produce the UK passports post-Brexit. FT has the scoop:

"Gemalto, a security company based in Paris, is expected to win a tender process ahead of the UK’s De La Rue, one person briefed on the decision said. De La Rue currently holds the contract for producing UK passports, worth £490m over 10 years.

Both the Sun and Daily Telegraph newspapers reported the news on Wednesday evening. Bill Cash, a pro-Brexit MP, said the decision was “incongruous to say the least” and “symbolically completely wrong”.

“The irony is unreal,” said Eloise Todd, chief executive of Best for Britain, the anti-Brexit campaign group.

The Home Office said the procurement process was ongoing, adding: “We do not require passports to be manufactured in the UK. A proportion of blank passport books are currently manufactured overseas, and there are no security or operational reasons why this would not continue.” "

While the UK is inside the EU (transition included) EU public procurement rules and general principles remain applicable. And there's no irony in that.