What was meant to be a relaxed day of fishing between Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice-President JD Vance has turned into an unexpected political talking point — and potentially a £2,500 fine.
The friendly angling session at Chevening House in Kent last week has now landed Lammy in the awkward position of having to report himself to the environment watchdog.
The Simple Oversight That Sparked the Trouble
In England and Wales, anyone aged 13 or over needs a rod licence to fish for freshwater species like carp.
It’s a straightforward rule — but one Lammy admits he overlooked during his day with the Vice-President.
Without a valid licence, anglers can be fined up to £2,500 on the spot.
The Foreign Secretary has now confessed it was an “administrative oversight” and has already contacted the Environment Agency to set things right.
A Fishing Trip With No Catches — Except the Legal One
If it’s any consolation to Lammy, no fish were harmed in the making of this diplomatic meet-up.
In fact, he didn’t catch a single one — although, according to JD Vance, the Vice-President’s children had no such trouble.
“Unfortunately, the one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the Foreign Secretary did not,” Vance joked.
Every fish caught during the trip was returned to the private lake at Chevening.
More Than Just a Day by the Lake
The US Vice-President’s visit to Chevening was part of a UK trip that included a family holiday in the Cotswolds.
While here, Vance also met with senior Tories Robert Jenrick and Chris Philp, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and even The Apprentice alum Thomas Skinner.
Farage later described his meeting with Vance as a catch-up with an “old friend,” keeping details of their conversation firmly under wraps.
Official Responses and Quick Damage Control
The Foreign Office confirmed that Lammy has formally written to the Environment Agency about the mistake, making sure the correct licences have now been purchased.
The Environment Agency, for its part, reminded the public that rod licences fund vital work to improve rivers and lakes for the sport.
The Countryside Alliance also weighed in, stressing both the health benefits of angling and the importance of following the rules.
A Lighthearted Spin on a Minor Blunder
Labour insiders were quick to keep things in perspective. “There’s nothing fishy to see here,” one source told The Sun.
They added that while Lammy may not have landed any fish, he scored a “big diplomatic catch” by having the Vice-President as a weekend guest.
As soon as the licensing slip-up came to light, Lammy sorted the paperwork to ensure he wouldn’t get caught out again — at least not by the law.