'Think very carefully!' Brexiteer hits out at France as Macron 'facing own Waterloo'
A BREXITEER has issued a serious warning to Emmanuel Macron following the blockade of Jersey's main port today.
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Following the arrival of a mass of French vessels this morning, former Brexit Party MEP and leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, warned the French Government must think "very carefully" over its actions. With French ships pouring towards St Helier this morning, Mr Tice claimed the country's agricultural minister is playing to their own domestic voters. In an attack against the French government, Mr Tice said: "French fishing boats pouring towards St Helier port...their agriculture minister clearly playing to own domestic voters but French Govt should think very very carefully before carrying out threat to cut off Jersey electricity. Very carefully."
Twitter users lashed out at France's actions in response to Mr Tice's message.
One person said: "It’s hard to believe that the French (EU) would stoop so low to allow/condone their fishermen to take this action.
"The French/ EU are In the Political gutter."
A second said: "This is an act of war! So let’s defend our islands with force!"
A third said: "We need to put a power line down to them so they cannot threaten them with that again, make sure warships are on the shore to protect our UK islands.
"Ban their fishing rights as punishment as we will not be terrorised, our waters, our laws."
A fourth said: "200 years after Napoleon, Macron looks like meeting his own Waterloo."
French ships descended on the island this morning amid a row over the lack of data provided to the UK Government.
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Without the required fisheries data, the UK Government did not sanction licences to a host of French vessels.
Due to this, French ships blockaded the port while Mr Macron's government warned electricity supplies to the island may well be hindered.
Maritime minister Annick Girardin said: "With regards to Jersey, I would remind you, for example, of electricity transmission by underwater cable. So, we have the means."
In order to patrol the waters, the UK Government dispatched two Royal Navy vessels to Jersey this morning.
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Although there were merely there as a precaution, French authorities confirmed they have also dispatched a vessel to the island.
The Athos will arrive in the waters later this morning to carry out a patrol mission.
French vessels initially arrived to block the Commodore Goodwill freight ship from leaving the port.
Such was the mass of fishing vessels around Jersey's capital city, local described the scenes as an invasion.
Jersey fisherman Josh Dearing said: "There were probably about 60 boats.
"There were a few hand-held flares and smoke flares going off and apparently a few maybe bangers and stuff going off from the French.
"It was quite a sight. It was impressive, I looked from the shore this morning and it was just like a sea of red lights and flares already going off at sea.
"It was like an invasion."