A dad has revealed how his four-year-old twins were issued with conflicting passports in a perfect metaphor for Brexit .
The Home Office gave Oscar May a passport with 'European Union' across the front - but left the words off the document for his brother Archie, dad Brendan says.
It comes despite the boys, who live near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, having their applications sent off on the same day.
Remain-backing dad Brendan, 45, said it was a metaphor for how Brexit has divided the country.
The environmental consultancy boss told the Mirror: "Isn't it a great sign of the total mess we're in.
"We've got one foot in the EU with no influence, one foot out of the EU, and we still don't know if we're going to leave."
Home Office chiefs insisted there is no practical difference between Archie's and Oscar's passports - and they're both equally valid for travel in the EU.
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But the boys, who are non-identical twins, will be lumped with the symbolic split until they are almost 10.
Dad-of-three Brendan, who has relatives in Holland, applied for the boys' passports after the government warned those with less than six months' validity could become void for travel.
He sent off both applications on the same day near the beginning of April.
However, he said one was processed in Belfast while the other was processed in Liverpool.
When both arrived within days of each other this week, the Liverpool passport - Oscar's - had the words 'European Union' while the Belfast passport - Archie's - did not.
He said it was "mind-blowing" that the Home Office was "mucking around" with passport designs when there was still the risk of a No Deal Brexit .
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He added: "The whole thing is like a terrible sitcom. The whole management of Brexit has been a bad comedy."
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Burgundy passports that no longer include the words ‘European Union’ on the front cover were introduced from 30 March 2019.
“In order to use leftover stock and achieve best value for the taxpayer, passports that include the words ‘European Union’ will continue to be issued for a short period after this date.
“There will be no difference for British citizens whether they are using a passport that includes the words European Union, or a passport that does not.
"Both designs will be equally valid for travel.”
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