Fears France will deliberately block Christmas shipments in fishing rights revenge plot

FRANCE is set to deliberately snarl up Christmas shipments to and from Britain in revenge over fishing rights, officials fear. Downing Street is braced for more confrontation with President Emmanuel Macron as talks over licences for UK waters reach a crucial stage. Downing Street is braced for more confrontation with President Emmanuel Macron as talks over licences for UK waters reach a crucial stage French skippers are threatening to blockade Calais from Saturday morning if negotiations on a fishing deal fail. Paris has set midnight on Friday as the deadline and is preparing reprisals, which may be triggered next Monday. It wants to slap extra import taxes on British goods but is unlikely to win the necessary backing from the EU. Instead, it could cause backlogs at Calais and Dover by ordering more physical checks. Other measures will include hiking electricity in Jersey and blocking UK boats from French ports. But French officials privately admit they do not want to make strained relations with Britain even worse. It comes as an EU row brews after Brexit minister Lord Frost dismissed its opening offer on Northern Ireland border checks. Most read in The Sun PAY RISE £1,000 a year boost to wages as Rishi hikes minimum wage to £9.50 an hour CHEW ARE YER? Paul Scholes mocked as daughter shares video of him chewing her TOENAILS WHAT A BONUS I'm 25 with a 14-year-old son, people shame me but I love being a young mum surprise! Rylan Clark wakes after boozy birthday bash to find celeb pal still in his home 'IT'S EASIER' Eamonn & Ruth reveal heartbreaking reason they'll spend this Christmas APART OF-FENCE-IVE Neighbour puts up 8ft fence next to family's home… plunging them into darkness Barnier's storming MICHEL Barnier has his eyes on the French presidency after an explosion of support for his eurosceptic election campaign. The ex-Brexit negotiator is touted to win the conservative nomination and take on Emmanuel Macron next spring. Backers say his centre-right party has been gripped by "Barnier mania" and the 70-year-old could be the "French Joe Biden". At a rally, Mr Barnier declared: "I sincerely think I will win the presidential election." But polls predict Mr Macron, 43, will comfortably win a second term. The Sun Manage Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email service.