Just in: Sheku is refused a British passport

Message from the Nottingham-based cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason:

Applied for an additional British Passport with the approval of Home Office to assist with applications for visas and international work permits in this post #Brexit #Covid world along with my sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason. Appointments 15 mins apart, identical paperwork submitted. She receives original passport and second one within a week. Mine comes back cancelled 10th June (expiry 2029). Since then, despite constant calls I have NO explanation, NO forthcoming assistance and NO way of playing the engagements I am contracted to play. Ideas appreciated.

Priti Patel needs to sort out her department asap. Everything is wrong with every aspect of border control and every traveller knows it.

UPDATE: Tonight the Home Office said: ‘We are in contact with Mr Kanneh-Mason to resolve this situation and apologise for any inconvenience caused. A replacement passport will be issued as soon as possible.’

UPDATE AM: Statement from the Home Office: ‘We apologise to Mr Kanneh-Mason for any inconvenience caused as a result of this incident, which was due to human error. We have now issued him with a replacement passport.’