Paris and London have been at loggerheads after dozens of French vessels were refused licences for access to English Channel fishing grounds last month. French ministers have said they would quickly layout retaliatory measures over fishing rights "towards the British and also our neighbours in Jersey".

       These include cutting the power supply of the British Crown Dependencies of the Channel Islands to put pressure on London.

       But when asked about the row, Mr Johnson told Bloomberg: “I’ve got great relations with the French government, with Emmanuel Macron, and will continue to ensure that the UK and France have a very close relationship.

       “The UK and France have been “mains serrees”, or whatever the phrase, you know, for a long, long time.

       “If you look at what we do together around the world, we’re very close partners and we’re friends, and it’s vital -- and it is the deep will of our populations that that should remain the case and we will continue to do great things together.”

       Talks between Jersey, the UK and France are ongoing to resolve the issue.

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