Macron Softens Threat To Stop UK Boats Landing Fish In French Ports

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, backed down last night over threats to clog up UK exports and ban its fishers from landing catches at French ports from midnight in a dispute over access to UK fishing waters, as his deadline approached.

- Rowena Mason, Daniel Boffey, Jamie Grierson

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, backed down last night over threats to clog up UK exports and ban its fishers from landing catches at French ports from midnight in a dispute over access to UK fishing waters, as his deadline approached.

A new proposal was put forward by Macron’s government late yesterday after No 10 had said they were bracing for Paris to deliver on its vow to retaliate over the issue of fishing permits.

“Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to prime minister [Boris] Johnson. The talks need to continue,” Macron told reporters on the sidelines of the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow. “We’ll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed.”

France had been expected to impose extra customs checks and ban British fishing boats at some French ports from midnight with official sources initially reporting that neither side was backing down in their post-Brexit row over fishing rights.

Johnson’s spokesperson had warned that Britain had “robust” contingency plans in place if France followed through on its threats to introduce more border checks or stop some British vessels reaching French ports.