Foreign secretary reports ‘oversight’ to Environment Agency after failing to acquire necessary rod licence
David Lammy has referred himself to the environment watchdog after going fishing with JD Vance without the required licence during the US vice-president’s trip to the UK.
The foreign secretary hosted Vance and his family at Chevening House in Kent last week, where the pair fished from the property’s private lake. Anglers aged 13 and over must hold a rod licence to fish for freshwater species such as carp in England and Wales. Lammy failed to land a catch, but “all of my kids did”, Vance said.
The Foreign Office said an “administrative oversight” meant licences had not been obtained in advance. Lammy bought them as soon as he was made aware, and wrote to the Environment Agency (EA) to acknowledge the breach. “He also thanked them for their work protecting Britain’s fisheries,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.
The agency confirmed the licences had since been bought. All fish caught during the visit were returned to the water.
