Alan Brown, deputy director of policy for the Home Office's Identity and Passport Service, has written to Equity President Malcolm Sinclair to apologize after Sinclair complained on behalf of Sheldon, a West End actor who had provided a reference on a passport application for his daughter’s boyfriend. The application was rejected at interview by the passport office, because it said it did not regard an actor as an acceptable reference.
"I share fully concern about the remark made on the status of acting as a suitable occupation for passport purposes," Brown wrote in his letter to Sinclair. "That is both inappropriate and inaccurate. Please accept my apologies for the offence this has caused." He added that while he believed this was an "isolated incident," he would remind his staff of the rules and "the importance of treating all customers with respect."
Sheldon said he thought the rejection was "staggering and something I felt I had to challenge." The incident was reported and debated in the House of Commons on March 15.
"Acting is a proper job, and many members in the house prove that on a day-to-day basis," leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young said. He added that acting is a profession in which the U.K. "leads the world."