Man not allowed to go abroad as surname is 'too rude' for passport
A bloke who decided to change his name to ‘something funny’ a few years back had the joke backfire after he was turned down for a passport.
Parents have been known to give their children some truly terrible monikers, from one mum who gave her kid 'the manliest' name she could think of, to parents taking inspiration from current blockbusters to set their kids up for playground bullying.
But this chap decided to give himself a 'slightly ridiculous' name voluntarily, and suffered the consequences.
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Kenny, whose surname used to Kennard, changed his name back in 2016 and managed to get himself a driving licence with his new name on.
However, when his passport expired in 2019 his application for a new one was turned down as his name ‘may cause offence’. Awkward.
Kenny, from Bude in Cornwall, appealed against the HM Passport Office's verdict three times - but the Home Office has refused to budge.
And as Kenny wasn’t keen on his switching his moniker up again - he was resigned to the idea of only having holidays in the UK.
So what was the offence name in question? Well, I’ll let Kenny tell you.
"I'd decided to change my name to Fu-Kennard a few years back,” he said in 2019.
"When I'd had to apply for a driving licence, it was accepted fine, so I figured it wouldn't make much difference in applying for a passport.
"How wrong I was!
"I got refused on grounds that my name could cause offence or was vulgar.
"So I complained, but they upheld their decision so I complained again. I was then told they'd keep the fee for administration costs.
"If I wanted to take the matter further, they said I'd need to contact my MP.
"So I wrote to MP Scott Mann, and he replied saying they're within their remit to refuse.
"Now I'm skint with no passport, like a prisoner in my own country.
"On the one hand, I find the whole thing funny - as do all of my friends.
"But I'm also finding it hard to believe the name could be construed as anything but funny and slightly ridiculous. It's just a joke.
"I agree with Home Office policy that not all names are acceptable, such as racial hate words or anything that invokes hatred.
"'Fu-Kennard' is not offensive, and I object to them denying my chosen name."
Kenny, unsuccessfully, applied for passports in May, June and July on 2019.
But the Home Office dismissed his application, citing Section 2 on its longstanding policy on changing names.
The official guidelines list a series of 'names that may cause outrage or offence' that could be classed as 'unacceptable' and not fit for a passport.
They include 'the use of swear words; sexually explicit references; inappropriate religious connotation; is vulgar, offensive, or libellous to an individual; makes use of a name of a person living or dead which may cause public concern'.
The guidance also states: "This applies to phonetic, as well as actual use of words comprising of part or the entire name."
Claire Reid