Lammy alerts regulator over unlicensed fishing with US vice‑president JD Vance

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has reported himself to the Environment Agency after fishing without the required rod licence during a visit by US vice‑president JD Vance to the UK.

Lammy hosted Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children at Chevening House in Kent last week. The group fished in the estate’s private lake. Under rules in England and Wales, anyone aged 13 or over must hold a rod fishing licence to catch freshwater species such as carp. The Foreign Office said the licences had not been arranged beforehand due to an “administrative oversight.”

Vance later remarked that Lammy did not catch any fish, while all of Vance’s children did. Once informed of the breach, Lammy purchased the necessary licences and wrote to the Environment Agency acknowledging the non‑compliance, explaining how it had been corrected, and thanking the agency for its work protecting British fisheries. The regulator confirmed the licences were now in place. All fish caught during the session were returned to the water.

The fishing formed part of a broader UK trip by Vance, who was spending time in the Cotswolds with his family. The visit combined private political meetings with leisure activities and was accompanied by a significant security presence in normally quiet areas of Oxfordshire. Vance stayed at Dean Manor, an 18th‑century Georgian property reportedly hosted by former chancellor George Osborne. The stay prompted road closures, police checks, and the installation of a temporary helipad.

Property owners Pippa and Johnny Hornby apologised to local residents for the disruption caused by the vice‑president’s security arrangements, describing it as a “circus.” In nearby Charlbury, around 100 people attended a “Vance Not Welcome” event organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, carrying banners and cakes mocking the Republican politician. Some chants criticised his positions on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

Later in the trip, on Wednesday evening, Vance arrived at the Carnell estate near Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, where he was met by dozens of pro‑Palestinian protesters banging pots. During his time in Scotland, he held informal talks with senior Conservative figures, including Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, and attended a breakfast with Nigel Farage.

According to US and UK officials, Lammy and Vance discussed topics including Ukraine, Gaza, trade, and US concerns about certain aspects of British legislation, such as the Internet Security Act. The Foreign Office described their meeting as warm and constructive. Vance called Lammy a good friend and a “very gracious host,” despite the foreign secretary’s lack of fishing success.