No point in trying to reason with French

“FRENCH trawler damages crab pots and lines.” A very informative and interesting article recently. Once again the French fishermen show they don’t care about fishing illegally and are not only destroying our fishing industry but our fishermen’s livelihoods by illegally over-fishing in our waters, often with huge trawlers with nets two miles long.

Now they are intent on damaging our fishing equipment. It is obvious that there is no point in trying to reason with the French any more, as they are not to be trusted and they are only interested in looking after themselves.

Our Government must now urgently support our fishermen, otherwise there won’t be any fish for them left to catch in British waters. It is the French, not us, who have broken maritime laws.

Unfortunately, Britain is known by other countries as a “soft touch” and we must show the French that we will not put up with their threats any more.

Liz Truss said she intends to be firm with France over their fishing threats, but it all seems to have gone quiet at the Foreign Office. We need to know what is going on, as Government ministers are not always to be trusted when it comes to dealing with other countries.

There is no point in having more diplomatic discussions. Positive, strong action is now needed, not words, as it is the only way the French will take any notice of us.

They must be made to see we are serious and we will follow up our threats if they don’t stop their aggressive behaviour over fishing in our waters and destroying our fishermen’s property. Which they must pay compensation for in full, plus loss of their earnings.

As Fred Inch (who had his crab pots and lines damaged) said, in France their fishermen are treated like heroes and really looked after, which seems to be the opposite in Britain. He also said: “Our government is so soft-bellied they don’t do anything about it.” Which unfortunately seems to be very true.

Another example of the French ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude is their approach to animal wildlife.

Over the years the French have shot and killed wild birds for sport in their country, then have wanted to come over here to do the same to our wild birds, as they have virtually killed off theirs.

I know this as we have French friends. Now Macron has given the French permission to shoot over one million wild birds, most likely migrating to warmer climates from Britain, and that’s why we are losing so many of our different wild birds.

With the French elections coming up next year, we all know Macron is desperate to get his countrymen on his side.

Helen Capel North Somerset