UK sends navy vessels to Jersey amid post-Brexit fishing row with France Daniel Boffey and Lisa O Carroll
Boris Johnson has dispatched two Royal Navy patrol boats to protect Jersey from a feared naval blockade by French fishing vessels, in an escalation of a dispute over post-Brexit access to waters around the Channel island.
The move followed talks on Wednesday evening between the prime minister and the chief minister of the British crown dependency, John Le Fondré, who had warned Downing Street of imminent movements by French fishing boats to cut off the island’s main port.
Jersey’s government had already been reeling from comments on Tuesday from France’s minister for maritime affairs, Annick Girardin, who had warned that the island’s electricity supply could be turned off in retaliation over a lack of access for the French fishing fleet to its waters.
BBC News
By Emma Harrison
media caption They want talks : The BBC s Robert Hall is at Jersey s St Helier port
Jersey officials are meeting French fishermen, who have been protesting over their post-Brexit rights, in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Two Royal Navy ships and two French vessels are patrolling near Jersey while about 60 French and Jersey boats are at the island s St Helier port.
French fishermen say their rights are unfairly restricted by licences issued by the island under a new system.
No 10 said the PM has been in contact with Jersey officials over the row.
HMS Severn, which has previously been used to shadow Russian navy warships off the English coast, can be seen from the port, sitting off about a mile from the French boats. HMS Tamar is nearby and both ships are maintaining a presence and not making any effort to intervene.
BBC News
By George Bowden
image captionHMS Severn is one of the offshore patrol vessels being deployed to Jersey
The UK is sending two Royal Navy patrol vessels to monitor a protest in waters around Jersey s main port amid a fishing rights row with France.
PM Boris Johnson said any blockade would be completely unjustified as over 100 French fishing boats prepared to sail to the island on Thursday.
It follows a threat by France to cut off Jersey s electricity over new post-Brexit rules for French fishing boats.
No 10 said sending the Navy vessels was a precautionary measure .
HMS Severn is currently heading towards the waters off Jersey s port of St Helier. HMS Tamar will follow later.