Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted US Vice‑President JD Vance for angling at his official country retreat in Chevening, Kent, on 8 August. Lammy did not possess the required rod licence for freshwater fishing and subsequently referred himself to the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency issued a formal warning but will not prosecute, citing enforcement policy that typically favours advice or warnings for inexperienced anglers with no prior offences. Lammy later bought the relevant rod licence. Lammy did not catch any fish during the outing; Vance and his children landed fish that were returned to the lake. The Foreign Office confirmed the matter is concluded.
Everyone who goes fishing needs a licence to help improve our rivers, lakes and the sport anglers love. As Mr Lammy has confirmed, we have issued a warning letter for fishing without a licence in line with our enforcement and sanctions policy. The agency's first response to a breach is usually to issue advice or a warning rather than launch a prosecution, particularly in cases involving inexperienced anglers with no history of fishing without a licence.
The findings of the Environment Agency draw a line under this matter. As soon as it became apparent there had been an administrative oversight, the foreign secretary wrote to the agency so it could consider appropriate action and to thank them for their work protecting Britain's fisheries. He also bought the relevant rod licences to ensure there was no repeat of the situation in the future.
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