THE UK Government has already started issuing passports without the words ‘European Union,’ it emerged last night.

Britain was due to leave the EU on March 29 and the HM Passport office started printing new covers this week assuming our departure wouldn’t be delayed.

But our exit date was initially pushed back to April 12 – and Theresa May requested a further delay until June 30 to give her time to get a deal through the Commons.

The removal of the reference to the European Union sparked a furious backlash from Remainers.

Susan Hindle Barone, one of those issued with a new passport, said she was “truly appalled,” adding on Twitter: “It makes me feel sick.”

Another – Ann Lander – fumed: “How can this be? UK is still a member.”

And Catherine Sunderland fumed: “I don’t understand how the Home Office can do this while still in the EU though.”

The Home Office said the removal of the words ‘European Union’ was part of a two-stage redesign process.

The second stage will be returning the colour of British passports to blue later this year.