UK Foreign Minister David Lammy faces hefty fine after fishing trip with JD Vance sparks outrage

Last week, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy went fishing with US Vice President JD Vance at Vance’s private retreat in the English countryside. Lammy could face a £2,500 ($3,400) fine for fishing without a rod license, which is illegal in Britain.

On Wednesday, Lammy referred himself to the UK’s environment watchdog, the Environment Agency, for this offense. A Foreign Office spokesperson said Lammy had an administrative oversight and hadn’t acquired the right fishing licenses for the private lake at Chevening House, reported by CNN.

Lammy fixes fishing license mistake

Lammy quickly bought the correct rod fishing licenses once he realized the mistake. He also wrote to the Environment Agency, explaining the error and how it was fixed, while thanking them for their work protecting Britain’s fisheries. Lammy had hosted Vance at Chevening House, a “grace-and-favor” retreat in Kent, known as the Garden of England, as per the reports.

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Fishing trip and press fun

After his official meetings, Vance stayed in the UK for a family vacation. Despite being critical of the UK government’s approach to free speech, Vance and Lammy held a friendly press conference after their fishing trip, according to the report by CNN.

Vance joked to reporters that all his kids caught fish, but Lammy did not. The caught fish were returned to the private lake, according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. In England and Wales, anyone aged 13 or older must have a rod license to freshwater fish, as part of laws protecting fish stocks and promoting sustainable fishing, claims report.

FAQs

Q1: Why is UK Foreign Minister David Lammy facing a fine?
Lammy could be fined £2,500 for fishing without a rod license at Chevening House with US Vice President JD Vance.

Q2: Did Lammy fix the fishing license mistake?
Yes, he bought the correct license and informed the Environment Agency about the error.