Overview

• The Environment Agency confirmed on August 22 that David Lammy will not be prosecuted and has received a formal warning for fishing without a rod licence.
• Lammy hosted U.S. Vice President JD Vance at Chevening in Kent on August 8, lacked the required licence during the outing, then bought the licences afterward and notified the regulator.
• Anglers aged 13 or over must hold a freshwater rod licence in England and Wales, with penalties up to £2,500 for violations.
• Officials said they typically issue advice or warnings for first-time or inexperienced anglers, citing 2024/25 figures of 765 prosecutions, 1,965 warning letters and 159 advice cases.
• The agency declined to disclose whether Vance held a licence, citing data protection, while some public commentary questioned the consistency of enforcement.