Foreign secretary given formal warning over lack of licence during JD Vance fishing trip - but will avoid fine

The overseas caput has been issued a ceremonial informing by the Environment Agency aft reporting himself for sportfishing with the US vice-president without a licence.

David Lammy reported himself to the bureau aft an "administrative oversight" meant helium failed to get a rod licence portion hosting JD Vance astatine his grace-and-favour retreat successful Chevening, Kent, connected 8 August.

Mr Lammy failed to drawback immoderate fish, though Mr Vance and his children were much successful, and returned their catches to the lake.

At the time, a Foreign Office spokesperson said that, aft recognising his mistake, Mr Lammy had subsequently purchased a licence.

Anglers successful England and Wales aged 13 oregon implicit indispensable person a rod licence to food for freshwater species. If they bash not person one, they tin look a good of up to £2,500.

On Friday, an Environment Agency spokesperson confirmed Mr Lammy would not beryllium prosecuted, but had received a ceremonial warning.

They said: "Everyone who goes sportfishing needs a licence to assistance amended our rivers, lakes and the athletics anglers love.

"As Mr Lammy has confirmed, we person issued a informing missive for sportfishing without a licence, successful enactment with our enforcement and sanctions policy."

The agency's archetypal effect to a breach is usually to contented proposal oregon a warning, alternatively of prosecuting, peculiarly successful cases involving inexperienced anglers with nary past of sportfishing without a licence.

In 2024/25, 765 radical were prosecuted for breaching sportfishing rules, portion 1,965 received informing letters and 159 were issued with proposal and guidance.

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A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "The findings of the Environment Agency gully a enactment nether this matter.

"As soon arsenic it became evident determination had been an administrative oversight, the Foreign Secretary wrote to the bureau truthful it could see due enactment and to convey them for their enactment protecting Britain's fisheries.

"He besides bought the applicable rod licences to guarantee determination was nary repetition of the concern successful the future."