This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34710261

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New UK passport design criticised over lack of women Sexism row over new UK passport design
(about 1 hour later)
The government has been criticised over a decision to include just two women in the new UK passport design. The government has been accused of sexism over the new UK passport design, which includes just two famous women to seven men.
Pages from the latest passport include cultural figures and landmarks from the past 500 years, such as Shakespeare and the Angel of the North. The new passport focuses on UK figures and landmarks from the past 500 years.
Architect Elizabeth Scott and computer programmer Ada Lovelace are the only women to feature, alongside seven men. Architect Elizabeth Scott and mathematician Ada Lovelace are the only women to feature in the redesign.
Government officials defended their decision when questioned about the design at a press conference. Government officials defended the decision, but Labour's shadow employment secretary Emily Thornberry told the BBC it was "exasperating".
Minister for Immigration James Brokenshire launched the new passport at Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London, along with representatives from the Passport Office.Minister for Immigration James Brokenshire launched the new passport at Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London, along with representatives from the Passport Office.
The decision to include two women and seven men was signed off by ministers, and the figures included were a 'good representation' of artists and designers, Mark Thomson, director general at the Passport Office, said at the press conference. The theme for the new 37-page passport is "Creative United Kingdom", and highlights Shakespeare, the Angel of the North and Edinburgh Castle among many other iconic historic people, places and achievements.
When questioned about the lack of women in the new design, he said: "There's always someone who wants their favourite rock band or icon in the book." Mark Thomson, director general of the Passport Office, faced questions over why only two women were included in the latest passport design.
Suggestions for famous women who could have been featured in the new book included Beatrix Potter, Jane Austen, the Brontes, Hilary Mantel and Tracey Emin. "It wasn't something where we said 'let's set out to only have two women'", he said.
Labour's shadow employment secretary Emily Thornberry tweeted her disapproval of the design, saying: "Here we go again - new UK passport has 7 men featured and just 2 women. We exist." "In trying to celebrate the UK's creativity we tried to get a range of locations and things around the country to celebrate our triumphs over the years, so there we are."
Speaking to the BBC, Ms Thornberry said the decision not to include more women was "quite exasperating". Missed opportunity
"This is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women as well. We have had this fight about bank notes and now it's about passports. Asked about the omission of female icons such as Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, he said: "Whenever we do these things there is always someone who wants their favourite rock band or icon in the book.
"I just feel as though we are here all over again", she said. "We've got 16 pages, a very finite space. We like to feel we've got a good representative view celebrating some real icons of the UK - Shakespeare, Constable and of course Elisabeth Scott herself."
The government has also been criticised on Twitter for not including more Scottish figures or landmarks in the book. The decision to include two women and seven men was signed off by ministers, and the figures included were a 'good representation' of artists and designers, he added.
The design was criticised by Ms Thornberry, who tweeted: "Here we go again - new UK passport has 7 men featured and just 2 women. We exist."
Speaking to the BBC, she said: "This is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women as well. We have had this fight about bank notes and now it's about passports.
"I just feel as though we are here all over again."
More secure
Mr Brokenshire said the new passport design is "the most secure that the UK has ever issued" thanks to advanced printing technology with UV and infrared light, inks and watermarks.
"The UK passport has an international reputation as a trusted and secure travel document, and we work tirelessly to stay one step ahead of the criminals who attempt to abuse the UK's immigration laws," he said.
A new passport is launched in the UK every five years.
Work on the new design was started more than two years ago as part of a 10 year, £400m contract.
The new design is due to be rolled out in phases, starting in December 2015.