Foreign Secretary David Lammy has reported himself to environmental authorities after going fishing with US Vice-President JD Vance without the required license during Vance’s UK visit.
Last week, Lammy hosted Vance and his family at Chevening House in Kent, where the two fished in the estate’s private lake. In England and Wales, anglers aged 13 and older need a rod license to fish for freshwater species like carp. While Lammy didn’t catch anything, Vance joked that “all of my kids did.”
The Foreign Office called it an “administrative oversight” that licenses weren’t secured beforehand. Lammy purchased them as soon as he realized the mistake and wrote to the Environment Agency (EA) to acknowledge the error, while also thanking them for their work protecting UK fisheries. The EA confirmed the licenses were later obtained, and all fish caught were released back into the water.
The fishing trip was part of Vance’s wider UK holiday with his wife and three children in the Cotswolds, mixing family time with private political meetings. His stay at Dean Manor, an 18th-century Georgian house reportedly arranged by former Chancellor George Osborne, brought road closures, police checkpoints, and a temporary helipad. The property’s owners, Pippa and Johnny Hornby, later apologized to locals for the disruption caused by the vice-president’s security team.
Protesters from the Stop Trump Coalition held a “Vance not welcome” event in nearby Charlbury, with around 100 people carrying signs and cakes mocking the Republican politician, targeting his stance on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
Alongside his meeting with Lammy, Vance held informal talks with senior Conservatives, including shadow ministers Robert Jenrick and Chris Philp, and attended a breakfast with Nigel Farage. Discussions with Lammy reportedly covered Ukraine, Gaza, trade, and US concerns about UK laws like the Online Safety Act.
The Foreign Office described the meeting as warm and constructive. Despite Lammy’s lack of fishing success, Vance praised him as a “very, very gracious host” and a good friend.
FAQS
Here’s a list of FAQs about *”Lammy reported himself to a watchdog after illegally fishing with JD Vance”*:
### **Basic Questions**
1. **Who is Lammy?**
David Lammy is a British Labour Party politician and Member of Parliament (MP).
2. **Who is JD Vance?**
JD Vance is a U.S. Senator (Republican) and author known for *Hillbilly Elegy*.
3. **What happened between Lammy and Vance?**
Lammy reported himself to a watchdog after admitting to illegally fishing with Vance during a trip.
4. **Why did Lammy report himself?**
He likely did so to comply with transparency rules, as politicians must declare potential rule violations.
5. **What law did they break?**
They may have fished without the proper permits or violated local fishing regulations.
### **Intermediate Questions**
6. **What watchdog did Lammy report himself to?**
Likely the UK’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards or a similar ethics body.
7. **Could this affect Lammy’s political career?**
If it’s a minor violation, probably not—but repeated ethics issues could harm his reputation.
8. **Why were Lammy and Vance fishing together?**
They might have been on a diplomatic or personal trip; cross-party international meetings aren’t unusual.
9. **Has JD Vance commented on this?**
As of now, there’s no public statement from Vance—this seems to be Lammy’s self-report.
10. **What are the penalties for illegal fishing in this case?**
Fines or warnings, depending on local laws—unlikely to be severe for a first-time minor offense.
### **Advanced Questions**
11. **Does this violate UK parliamentary rules?**
If Lammy failed to declare the trip or gifts (like fishing permits), it could be a minor breach.
12. **Could this impact UK-US political relations?**
No, this is a minor personal incident, not a diplomatic issue.
13. **Has Lammy faced ethics issues before?**
As of now, no major prior violations—this seems isolated.
14. **How do watchdogs typically handle self-reported violations?**
They review the case and may issue guidance
