Institute of Economic Affairs COO Andy Mayer has called France for being “unstatesmanlike” and “irresponsible” after European Affair Minister Clement Beaune threatened to cut off energy supplies to the UK. The threat came amid mounting fury among French fishermen about the few licences Brexit Britain conceded to France's fishing vessels. Emmanuel Macron has given Britain and Jersey a two-week deadline to give French fishermen greater access to UK waters.

       He went on: “What happens if you do cut energy is you have an increase in the risk of crime; you have an increase in the risk of road traffic accidents, and you end up with a situation where hospitals are reliant on backup generators power which is less reliable.

       “This was a deeply irresponsible threat from the French minister.

       “Very unstatesmanlike, and entirely to do with domestic politics of the French presidential election that's coming up.

       “And to be clear on that point, President Macron is not popular.”

       French trawlers are threatening to create a blockade in the Channel.

       “We’re losing 50 percent of our income.”