Lammy Corrects Rod Licence Omission During Vance Visit

Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged an administrative oversight that left him without a rod licence for a private lake fishing session with US Vice President JD Vance during the latter’s diplomatic visit to the United Kingdom. The incident occurred at Chevening House in Kent, part of a lengthy programme of talks and informal meetings tied to Vance’s holiday schedule in the UK. Licences have since been procured, and Lammy has written to the Environment Agency to explain the lapse and to confirm the steps taken to correct it. The episode underscores the complexity of coordinating high-level diplomatic engagements with routine regulatory requirements.

The fishing excursion took place during a broader visit that included a bilateral discussion on international issues such as Gaza and Ukraine. The private lake at Chevening, a historic residence offered for official and family use by ministers, provided a backdrop for informal moments ahead of more formal talks. Vance described the encounter warmly, noting a close personal rapport with Lammy and their families’ enjoyment of the time together. He joked that the “one strain on the special relationship” was that his own children...