The government of Jersey has issued nearly 50 additional licences to French boats to fish in its waters, in an apparent effort to stave off threats of sanctions from Paris.
It comes after Britain earlier threatened to sue France within 48 hours over fishing rights, with Lizz Truss, the foreign secretary, saying London “will not roll over” in the ongoing war of words with Paris.
The 49 temporary permits issued by Jersey today come on top of 66 permanent licences awarded last week, bringing to 162 the total number of French vessels allowed to fish in the area post-Brexit. However, it is unclear whether the move will be enough to stop the imposition of measures threatened by Paris, such as blocking British boats from French ports.
Elsewhere, a bus was hijacked earlier by armed, masked men and set alight in a predominantly unionist area of Newtownards in Northern Ireland. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson responded by saying he will not be distracted by “thugs and hoods” in his efforts to get the Northern Ireland Protocol removed.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s Brexit coverage.
We’ll bring you updates throughout the day as the ongoing row between the UK and France over fishing rights escalates.
Full report: London threatens Paris with legal action
Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, has given the French government a 48-hour deadline to withdraw threats against Britain over post-Brexit fishing licences.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more details:
What did Macron say on Sunday?
Britain must give ground in a post-Brexit fishing dispute or France will trigger trade reprisals, Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday, warning: “The ball is in Britain’s court.”
My colleagues Rob Merrick and Alastair Jamieson have more details:
What started latest episode in UK/France fishing row?
Britain and France once again find themselves at loggerheads over post-Brexit fishing rights in the English Channel.
The latest installment of the feud kicked off on Wednesday when French maritime authorities seized a Scottish scallop trawler, the Cornelis-Gert Jan, and detained it at the port of Le Harve in Normandy, accusing it of fishing without a licence and fining a second boat for obstructing vessel checks.
My colleague Joe Sommerlad reports:
Owners of British fishing boat seized in France ordered to pay €150, 000 before it can leave
The owners of the British trawler seized by France during the escalating row over fishing licences will have to pay bail of more than £125,000 before being allowed to return to the UK.
Peter Allen has this dispatch from Paris:
‘Ask Me Anything’ with John Rentoul
Tensions between Britain and France escalated dramatically over the weekend – but the post-Brexit fishing row is one that has been simmering away for months.
Got a burning question about what the dispute is all about, or a query about Brexit more broadly? As ever, our chief political commentator John Rentoul is on hand for a chat.
Armed men hijack and torch bus in loyalist area of Northern Ireland
A bus has been hijacked and set alight in an attack politicians have linked to loyalist opposition to Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol.
The incident happened in the Abbot Drive area of Newtownards at about 6.30am on Monday.
Two masked and armed men boarded the bus and poured fuel over the vehicle before setting it alight.
The driver managed to get off the bus unharmed but has been left badly shaken by the incident.
The attack in the predominantly unionist area happened on the day set by the DUP earlier in the autumn to pull down the institutions at Stormont if major changes to the protocol had not been secured.
The DUP has not yet withdrawn ministers from the executive, insisting progress is being made in efforts to dismantle the contentious Irish Sea border.
DUP: ‘Terrorism won’t remove protocol’
The DUP leader Jeffrey Donalson has said “terrorism will do nothing to remove the Northern Ireland protocol” after armed, masked man hijacked and burnt out a bus in Northern Ireland.
“There was never any justification for people with guns on our streets and damaging property – there never will be,” he said in a tweet.
“Thuggery & terrorism will do nothing to remove the NI Protocol. Political action has secured progress and must be allowed to continue. Violence has no place in this.”
The attack in the predominantly unionist area of Abbot Drive of Newtownards happened on the day set by the DUP earlier in the autumn to pull down the institutions at Stormont if major changes to the protocol had not been secured.
Ulster Unionist Party: ‘Utterly disgraceful, depressing’
Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, says those who burnt out a bus in Netownwards have “hurt their own community”.
“Utterly disgraceful, depressing and stupid actions of thugs and criminals,” he said. In what way does this help address issues concerning the protocol.”
Police appeal for information
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is appealing for information after the burning out of a bus in Northern Ireland.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information about it is being asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 444 of 01/11/21.
Full statement:
