LONDON (AP) – Britain’s environment minister pledged Friday to retaliate if France carries through on threats to block UK ships from French ports, warning that “two can play at that game” in the worsening dispute rooted in Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Fishermen in Jersey have accused the French of piracy as tensions increase over France’s demands for more licences to trawl in British waters, with the Jersey fishermen saying that should the French attempt to blockade their port again, they will retaliate.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that two Royal Navy ships will continue their watch over the waters around the British Crown Dependency of Jersey after dozens of French fishermen ended their protests over alleged fishing rights violations.
French anger around the British reclaiming their territorial waters post-Brexit and the British response to it took a bizarre turn as a tricorn-wearing re-enactor was seen firing a flintlock musket as French fishermen prepared to blockade a British port.
Brexit leader Nigel Farage has criticised the French government for threatening to cut off electricity to Jersey island over a fishing rights dispute, remarking that “if the French are prepared to behave like this then thank God we left” the European Union.
Queen Elizabeth II marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with an address to the British Commonwealth honouring the sacrifice of the fallen.
