Government must show 'backbone' to France, urge fishers
Frustration is growing in the British fishing industry as France threatens to prevent some boats landing catch in a growing diplomatic row over post Brexit fishing rights.
Last updated 1st Nov 2021
Fishermen in Brixham are calling for the Government to show 'backbone' as Downing Street declines to set out whether there are contingency plans if France carries out threats in the ongoing fishing rights row.
Those who work at England's most valuable port-by-value say after problems and delays caused by Brexit, at the start of the year, the industry is getting used to extra red tape - but a solution to the current tensions needs to be found.
Earlier the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss warned France it had 48 hours to back down on threats - over blocking UK access to some fishing ports and enhanced paperwork checks at entry ports - while Jersey has issued another 49 licences to French boats in an apparent attempt to de-escalate the row.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the UK will not "roll over" in the face of French threats.
Asked if there are contingency plans in case of disruption, a No 10 spokesman said: "We are keen for France to take a step back from the threats."
French President Emmanuel Macron has told Boris Johnson that the ball is in his court to resolve the Channel fishing row, with less than 24 hours left to find a solution.
After a 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister at the G20 summit in Rome where they discussed the fishing licences row, Mr Macron said that unless Britain made a "significant move", Paris would introduce more stringent port and border checks from Tuesday.
Number 10 earlier pointed towards Foreign Secretary Liz Truss's warning that the UK could launch dispute settlement proceedings under the Brexit trade deal, and Brexit minister Lord Frost's threat of retaliatory "practical responses".
Questioned for a second time if there are contingency plans, he said: "It is the French who have issued the threat, we're keen to continue to abide by the TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement) and continue to look at licences and the validity of them as they're applied for."
Asked whether it was clear if the deadline for an agreement on licences set by France for Tuesday was at the beginning or the end of the day, the spokesman said: "That would be a question for the French."
Pressed what the British understanding of the deadline is, he said: "It's the French who have set out the timescale as per their threat, our focus is on trying to work with them and hope they step back from the threats they've made."
The EU has faced calls to "stand up for democracy" and against "blackmail" from France over the fishing dispute with the UK.
Conservative former minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, speaking during an urgent question in the Lords, said he congratulated Boris Johnson on his "robust stance in the interests of British fishermen".
He added: "As for those in this House who seem to think the fault lies on our side, might he just reflect on the remarks by the French prime minister that somehow Brussels should punish us for following the democratic wishes of the British people, and will he urge the European Union to stand up for democracy and stand up against this kind of blackmail?"
Environment minister Lord Benyon replied: "The commission has a duty to abide by the trade and co-operation agreement, and it is around that which discussions are now taking place.
Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.