Jersey news – live: Royal Navy warships stood down as French fishing boats leave St Helier after protest
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French fishing vessels are now sailing away from St Helier in Jersey following a protest over post-Brexit fishing rights. Several dozen small craft took part in the demonstration on Thursday morning.
France’s navy dispatched two coastal patrol vessels to monitor the protest, while Britain deployed two Royal Navy ships, HMS Severn and HMS Tamar, to conduct a similar task.
However, despite rising tensions, the UK will “absolutely not” go to war with France over the fishing dispute, Jersey’s foreign minister has said.
Ian Gorst told TalkRadio threats from Paris about cutting off Jersey’s electricity were “totally disproportionate to the technical issues” of implementing Brexit, but that diplomatic solutions were needed.
On Thursday he said he had “positive” talks with the French fishing crews.
Row over Jersey fishing rights pits UK against Paris and Brussels in first major trade dispute of Brexit era
London, Paris and Brussels were tonight at loggerheads in the first major trade dispute of the post-Brexit era, after Boris Johnson deployed gunships in the English Channel in response to the threat of a blockade of Jersey by French fishermen.
More below:
Row over Jersey fishing rights pits UK against Paris and Brussels in first major trade dispute of Brexit era
PM ‘pleased situation in Jersey has been resolved'
Boris Johnson has said he is "pleased that the situation in Jersey has been resolved" and thanked the Royal Navy for the swift response.
"The UK will always stand resolutely by the people of Jersey," the Prime Minister said.
Flares, fishing rights and flags jostle off coast of Jersey
From the harbour in St Helier, Julien Morel of the Channel Islands’ Bailiwick Express writes for The Independent about how the scenes unfolded offshore.
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