GRINCH-LIKE France president Emmanuel Macron has stepped up threats to ruin our Christmas as the fishing war turns nasty.
He warned he would trigger aggressive moves to strangle Britain's festive trade unless Boris Johnson caves on permits for fishing boats in the next 24 hours.
ReutersMacron warned he would trigger aggressive moves to strangle Britain's Christmas trade unless Boris caves on permits for fishing boats in the next 24 hours[/caption] France claims it has given Britain a document on how to meet its demands – here we imagine Macron as the Grinch
It came as a French judge ordered the release of a British trawler being held by officials in Le Havre — but the French government immediately scuppered it by appealing against the ruling.
Speaking at the G20 summit in Rome last night, Mr Macron said: "The ball is in Britain's court. If the British make no movement, the measures of November 2 will have to be put in place."
France claims it has given Britain a document on how to meet its demands and "hoped there would be a positive response tomorrow".
If No 10 refuses, then Mr Macron will go ahead with his plan to launch reprisals.
They include slapping a mountain of red tape on British trade and hampering the flow of toys and food in the run-up to Christmas.
Paris will also swamp British fishing vessels with checks and block them from French ports.
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French ministers have also threatened to go further still by raising electricity prices for Jersey in future.
But No 10 is expected to sue the EU for breaching the Brexit trade deal if France carries out its threats.
That could ultimately result in the EU being ordered to pay compensation or face tariffs on its goods.
Guide to growing dispute
Q: What is the row about?
A: France is angry 100 small boats wanting to fish in UK and Jersey's rich coastal waters have been refused licences.
It accuses Britain of breaching its trade deal with the EU by refusing to grant better access.
No 10 says some boats don't qualify as they can't prove a history of fishing there pre-Brexit.
Q: What is France threatening?
A: Ramping up customs checks to disrupt cross-Channel trade and banning UK trawlers from landing catches at French ports from tomorrow, and hiking the price of the electricity it supplies for Jersey.
Q: What happens next?
A: No 10 says President Macron's threats would breach the deal and is ready to sue the EU if he presses ahead.
It may trigger sanctions against the bloc. Talks to break the deadlock continue.
FOREIGN Office bosses are still buying gas guzzling polluting cars – while lecturing Brits on going electric to save the planet.
A whopping four in ten of the plush new Jaguar Land Rovers bought for our diplomats over the past two years still run at least partly on diesel or petrol, The Sun can reveal.
GettyThe embarrassing figures, unearthed by Labour, will cause some red faces as they come as Boris Johnson kicks off his Cop26 climate change summit[/caption] Labour's Shadow Foreign Office Minister, Catherine West, said 'Cop26 is our chance to set an example for the world on progress to Net Zero'
It comes despite a vow by No10 to ban the sale of the gas guzzling motors altogether by 2030.
The embarrassing figures, unearthed by Labour, will cause some red faces as they come as Boris Johnson kicks off his Cop26 climate change summit in Glasgow.
Labour's Shadow Foreign Office Minister, Catherine West, said: "Cop26 is our chance to set an example for the world on progress to Net Zero, and showcase the fantastic new electric cars being built in the UK to help us achieve that goal.
"But instead, we have yet another example of the government making one rule for everyone else and another for themselves."
In total, 44 of the 53 new Jaguar Land Rovers bought for the Foreign Office since January 2020 run on petrol, diesel or hybrid power – which still guzzle gas.
Back in July this year, the government vowed to make its entire car fleet fully electric by the end of 2027.
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The government forked out over £2million for the cars – splashing out on average £42,000 on each one.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are committed to reducing the department's environmental impact and aim to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner.
"The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transitioning its overseas vehicle fleet to low emission vehicles, but we have to work with the infrastructure of the countries we operate in."
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We'll help you to reduce food waste, insulate your home, create tasty planet-friendly meals and take simple steps to trim your carbon footprint.
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BORIS Johnson said he was "puzzled" by Emmanuel Macron's demands to punish the UK over Brexit, but he insists they remain "long-standing friends."
The PM said he was confused at the French leader's actions – which were "against the spirit" of the Withdrawal Agreement.
APBoris said he was 'puzzled' over Macron's demands to punish the UK over Brexit[/caption]
Speaking at the G20 summit, the Prime Minister said about Anglo-French relations: "I will just say this for the record.
"I must say I was puzzled to read a letter from the French Prime Minister explicitly asking for Britain to be punished for leaving the EU.
"I just have to say to everybody I don't believe that that is compatible either with the spirit or the letter of the Withdrawal Agreement or the Trade and Cooperation agreement, and that's probably all I'll say about that one."
He then said he and Macron had "a wide-ranging and frank discussion as you would expect between long-standing friends and very close allies."
It follows the Prime Minister's warning to Emmanuel Macron that he's got "bigger fish to fry" during the G20 summit in Rome that kicked off yesterday.
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As tensions over the fishing rights have been mounting, Brexit minister Lord Frost said the UK Government is "actively considering" starting legal proceedings and warned the EU that if France carries out its threats it would be "in breach of its obligations" under the post-Brexit trade deal with the UK.
In a series of tweets, the Conservative peer rallied against comments made by French prime minister Jean Castex in a letter to European Commission president Ms von der Leyen, that the UK should be shown "it causes more damage to leave the EU than to stay in".
Lord Frost said: "To see it expressed in this way is clearly very troubling and very problematic in the current context when we are trying to solve many highly sensitive issues, including on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
"This is all the more so as the threats made by France this week to our fishing industry, to energy supplies, and to future co-operation, for example through the Horizon research programme, unfortunately, form part of a pattern that has persisted for much of this year.
"As I set out yesterday to (European Commission vice-president) Maros Sefcovic, these threats, if implemented on November 2, would put the EU in breach of its obligations under our trade agreement.
"So we are actively considering launching dispute settlement proceedings as set out in Article 738 of the TCA."
EU WHAT
Downing Street has denied Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron have reached an agreement to de-escalate their increasingly bitter dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights.
Following a "brush-by" meeting between the two leaders in the margins of the G20 summit in Rome, French officials were reported as saying they had agreed to try to resolve their differences.
However, in a briefing for British journalists, the Prime Minister's official spokesman made clear the UK did not recognise the claims that there had been an agreement.
"I have seen the same reporting," the spokesman said.
They added: "It will be for the French to decide if they want to step away from the threats they have made in recent days about breaching the Brexit (trade) agreement."
French officials have warned they will bar UK fishing boats from some ports and tighten customs checks on lorries entering the country with British goods from Tuesday unless more licences are granted for their small boats to fish in British.
Britain has said the threats represent a breach of the post-Brexit Trade and Co-operation Agreement struck between the UK and the EU and warned it could trigger the disputes mechanism under the terms of the deal.
Mr Johnson's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister reiterated his deep concern over the rhetoric emanating from the French government in recent days, including the suggestion by the French prime minister that the UK should be punished for leaving the EU.
"He expressed his hope that the French government would de-escalate this rhetoric and withdraw their threats."
GettyBoris insists he and Macron remain 'long-standing friends'[/caption]
THE fish wars dramatically escalated today as Downing Street furiously slapped down French claims a deal had been done to "de-escalate" tensions and call a truce.
In extraordinary developments, Emmanuel Macron's team had claimed he and Boris Johnson had both agreed to step back from the brink after meeting for crunch talks at the G20 summit in Rome.
ReutersPrime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron[/caption]
But just minutes later Number 10 shot down the claims – insisting no deal had been reached.
Instead they furiously tore into Paris for threatening to blockade British ports, mire British boats in a mountain of red tape and cut energy supplies to Jersey unless their demands for endless fishing licences are adhered to.
In a bitter war of words broke out, the PM's spokesman said: "The de-escalation will have to come from the French who have threatened to breach the Brexit deal."
France claims their fishermen have not been granted licences they should have been to allow them to fish in UK waters.
In a sensational diplomatic row, Paris has threatened to launch a triple whammy attack on Britain's interests on Tuesday unless the UK caves and hands over more permits.
But Downing Street has come out swinging against the claims, insisting that all boats who can prove they have historically fished in UK waters have been given the permits.
The PM's spokesman insisted Britain is not "targeting" France in any way.
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He added: "We are enacting the Brexit agreement as it is written down.
"We are granting fishing licences when evidence presented.
"You saw the PM's interviews – he is not seeking to escalate this. He is focused on resolving the protocol."
He said Britain would "welcome" moves by France to de-escalate but added it was a question for the French government as to whether they will or not.
And he warned that Britain could trigger the dispute mechanism in the Brexit deal – the opening salvo in what could end up in a full-blown trade war between the two usual allies – if they press the nuclear button and go ahead with their threat on Tuesday.
He warned: "We stand ready to respond should they proceed with breaking the Brexit agreement."
As tensions mounted, Brexit minister Lord Frost said the UK government was "actively considering" starting legal proceedings and warned the EU that if France carries out its threats it would be "in breach of its obligations" under the post-Brexit trade deal with the UK.
In a series of tweets, the Conservative peer rallied against comments made by French PM Jean Castex in a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, that the UK should be shown "it causes more damage to leave the EU than to stay in".
Mr Johnson previously warned Macron he's got "bigger fish to fry" during the G20 summit.
Asked by The i about meeting the French leader again, Mr Johnson said: "It's about fish rather than sausages this time, I don't know if that's an improvement.
"Actually, there are bigger fish to fry, everybody knows that. Am I worried about that?
"The answer is no."
APG20 leaders from in front of the Trevi Fountain during an event for the G20 summit in Rome[/caption]
EMMANUEL Macron squeezed his way between Boris Johnson and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the G20 summit in Rome today.
The PM joined the French President and other leaders from the world's leading economies at the iconic Trevi fountain.
ReutersEmmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson shared an awkward smile at the Trevi fountain in Rome[/caption] AFPSpanish PM Pedro Sanchez, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Australian PM Scott Morrison, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian PM Mario Draghi, Mr Macron and Mr Johnson at the Trevi fountain[/caption]
As they lined up for a photo shoot, Mr Macron wedged himself between Mr Johnson and summit host Mr Draghi by shuffling backwards.
Mr Johnson and Mr Macron were also seen sharing an awkward smile ahead of the second day of G20 talks as they brace for a showdown over Britain's fishing row with France.
Brexit negotiator Lord Frost said the Government is "actively considering" legal proceedings and warned the EU that if France carries out its threats to impose border and port sanctions, it would be "in breach of its obligations" under the post-Brexit trade deal.
'CATASTROPHE'
The row over fishing licences has erupted because Paris is angry at a small number of its boats being turned down for licences.
It comes as Mr Johnson warned the world faces "absolute catastrophe" if leaders fail to strike a deal to tackle climate change.
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The Prime Minister said the stakes were high as he beat the drum for action ahead of the COP26 summit which opens in Glasgow today.
He said the UN gathering would be the "world's moment of truth" that would decide the future of our planet.
Mr Johnson wants a timetable to limit global warming by shutting down coal-fired generators, switching to electric cars and investing in green technology.
He conceded he faces a "tough" battle to get 200 nations on board and rated his chance of success at barely 60-40.
But he vowed to "keep alive that dream" of limiting climate change to 1.5C — for the sake of all humanity.
Using the G20 summit in Rome as a springboard to the talks, Mr Johnson declared: "COP26 will be the world's moment of truth.
"The question everyone is asking is whether we seize this moment or let it slip away.
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Find a step that's right for you and your family. Keep it up for at least two months and see how you do. It might become a habit.
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It could save you money and all of your actions will go toward a global goal of getting a billion people to make changes.
1. Eat more plants – Going meat-free for a day brings the same carbon saving as not driving for a month.
2. Cut food waste – The average UK family throws away £700 of food a year.
3. Turn down heating – With energy prices rocketing this will save you money.
4. Insulate your home – Stop heating the sky with heat escaping through your roof.
5. Repair and re-use – We ditch the equivalent of 250 t-shirts a year.
6. Walk or cycle one extra journey a day – petrol cars emit twice as much pollution in their first five minutes of use, so even short journeys add to climate change.
"I hope world leaders will hear them and come to Glasgow ready to answer them with decisive action.
"We need to recognise the scale of the consequences if we fail.
"The difference between restricting the growth in temperatures to 1.5C and allowing them to increase by 4C is potentially absolutely catastrophic for our children, our grandchildren and succeeding generations. We cannot discount their welfare.
"Together, we can mark the beginning of the end of climate change — and end the uncertainty once and for all."
Mr Johnson and wife Carrie visited the Colosseum, where he gloomily predicted the best he can hope for by any action agreed is to slow the increase in global temperatures.
His biggest stumbling block is the fact that China — responsible for more than a quarter of all carbon emissions — decided not to attend the summit in the first place.
The communist giant plans to build 43 new coal power plants and 18 blast furnaces, adding 1.5 per cent to its emissions, despite a pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060.
A massive 58 per cent of its energy is generated from coal as the world is being urged to switch to more expensive green power.
A glacier in the Antarctic is to be named Glasgow in honour of the city hosting COP26.
COP SPOT
Mr Johnson accepts the cost of going green won't come cheap, but said there were the added benefits of hundreds of thousands of high-wage, high-skilled jobs.
He added: "When I say that going green is easier, look at what we have done.
"The UK has cut CO2 by 44 per cent on 1990 levels and yet our economy has grown by 78 per cent.
"The point I made to our Chinese friends yesterday is you can cut your reliance on coal and you can still grow your economy and create many, many hundreds of thousands of high-pay, high-skilled jobs.
"They've made progress on overseas financing of coal.
"What China needs to do is find ways of making a more ambitious, nationally determined contribution.
"What the whole world needs to understand is you can reduce dependence on coal very fast.
"I reminded President Xi that the first time I went to Beijing, as the Mayor of London, the UK was 40 per cent reliant on coal to generate power.
Sir David Attenborough has called for nature's role to be recognised in the climate change fight.
COP SPOT
"Today, it's only one per cent.
"You can make progress very fast."
He admits the chance of a breakthrough is no better than the six out of ten he gave it last month, but says Glasgow can be a "stopping point" for eventual success.
He said the fight was going to be very difficult, but added, "the whole of humanity is in the ring" squaring up to the "foes of humanity".
Mr Johnson declared: "I think that everybody needs to focus.
"What the UK has been trying to do is take the abstract concepts of Net Zero we talked about in Paris six years ago and turn them into hard, sharp deliverables — reducing coal and internal combustion engine use, planting millions of trees and getting the cash the world needs to finance green technology."
ReutersMr Macron and Mr Johnson are set for a showdown over a furious fishing row[/caption] GettyBoris Johnson warned the world faces 'absolute catastrophe' if leaders fail to strike a deal to tackle climate change[/caption]
COP26 opens today at the Scottish Event Campus, with 30,000 delegates, 10,000 police — and as many as 200,000 protesters for the 13-day conference.
Boris Johnson kicks off two weeks of talks for the COP26 United Nations Climate Change ConferenceThe summit aims to cut emissions by 2030 with a target of global net zero by 2050The summit will be the biggest UK police operation of all time with more than 10,000 officers on dutyGroups including XR will descend on the summitSimon Dawson / No10 Downing StreetCarrie Johnson visits the Colosseum alongside partners of world leaders during the G20 spousal programme in Rome[/caption] Simon Dawson / No10 Downing StreetThe PM's wife at Rome's iconic Colosseum[/caption]
Prince to leaders: 'Listen to young'
PRINCE Charles will today tell world leaders they have an "overwhelming responsibility" to protect the planet for future generations.
And he will urge them to listen to the "despairing voices" of young people.
The prince, 72, was invited to speak at the G20 summit in Rome by Italian PM Mario Draghi.
Charles, who has highlighted climate change for decades, is expected to say: "I'm at last sensing a change in attitudes and the build-up of positive momentum."
He will add that youngsters see the leaders as "stewards of the planet holding the viability of their future in your hands".
