Foreign Secretary David Lammy has received a formal warning after reporting himself for fishing without a licence alongside US Vice-President JD Vance. The incident occurred on 8 August at Chevening, the official country retreat in Kent, where Lammy hosted Vance for angling.
Lammy did not possess the required rod licence at the time, which the Foreign Office described as an 'administrative oversight'. He subsequently purchased a licence and referred himself to the Environment Agency for investigation.
Under UK regulations, anglers aged 13 or over in England and Wales must hold a rod licence for freshwater fishing, with potential fines of up to £2,500 for non-compliance. The Environment Agency confirmed on Friday that Lammy would not face prosecution but had been issued a warning letter, in line with its enforcement policy for first-time or inexperienced offenders.
During the fishing trip, Lammy caught nothing, while Vance reported landing fish that were later returned to the lake. A Foreign Office spokesperson stated that the agency's findings 'draw a line under this matter' and that Lammy had purchased the relevant licences to prevent future oversights.
