The UK has rejected French claims of a deal to try to end their fishing dispute, leaving Paris on course to launch restrictive measures against British fishing boats operating in the Channel in just 48 hours.
While France claimed Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson had agreed to work on “practical measures” to resolve the dispute, No 10 insisted that was wrong and it is up to France to back down.
“We stand ready to respond should they proceed to breaking the Brexit agreement,” Mr Johnson’s spokesman told reporters at the G20 summit in Rome, adding the UK’s position had not changed and it was up to the “French to decide if they want to step away from the threats they have made in recent days”.
The measures France has said it will introduce include banning British vessels from some French ports, making fishing extremely difficult.
Brexit minister Lord Frost revealed on Saturday the UK is “actively considering” triggering a legal battle with France over the possible steps – a claim the PM echoed today.
Follow our live coverage below
