The dispute over post-Brexit fisheries deals with France is “irrelevant” to the fight against climate change, said Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister insisted that the UK’s position had not changed in the dispute over the number of fishing licenses granted to French small vessels since the UK left the EU.

Mr Johnson said the UK would continue to work to resolve the disagreement, which led France to threaten to take action against British ships before Paris retreated on Monday evening.

But speaking at a press conference at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday, Mr Johnson told reporters: “We are working very, very closely with our French friends and partners on the things that matter most. more for the peoples of the world, and that fight against climate change and reduce CO2 emissions.

“In relation to this extremely important question, the ones you mentioned are really irrelevant, but since you are asking whether the UK has changed its position on the fisheries issue, the answer is no.”

Earlier, Britain had praised the fact that France had “withdrawn” from threats to impose punitive measures in the row.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said a meeting Thursday in Paris between Brexit Minister Lord Frost and French European Minister Clément Beaune would be “very important” as further talks with the EU are also planned.

But before this meeting, the skipper of a scallop dredger registered in Scotland, the Cornelis Gert Jan, which had taken place in Le Havre, is due to appear before a French court on Wednesday.

Previously, Downing Street had been forced to clarify a suggestion by Mr Eustice that the British ship had been released, after it emerged that it was staying in Le Havre.

Mr Macron had previously warned that Paris could prevent British boats from unloading their catches in French ports and tighten customs controls to protest what they claim is a refusal by British authorities to grant licenses to French boats.

But France suspended threats at the 11th hour as negotiations continued.

The Associated Press reported that the deadline for action has now been extended until Thursday.

A French presidential official told the news agency on Tuesday that talks “are moving forward” and that France hopes to “move forward” with the fisheries dispute to focus on bigger issues such as change climate.

“Neither we nor the British want this to go wrong,” said the official, whom AP has not been allowed to name publicly.

Earlier, Mr Eustice told Sky News: “We welcome the fact that France has withdrawn from the threats it made last Wednesday.

“We have always said that we want to defuse this and have always said that we always have an open door to discuss any further evidence that France or the EU may have on any additional vessel that they would like to have licensed.

“France has clearly made the decision not to implement some of the decisions it threatened last Wednesday, we welcome that very much, but I think there is going to be a very important meeting on Thursday between Lord Frost and his counterpart. , not just on fishing but also a wider range of issues.

Mr Eustice told broadcasters he understood the Cornelis Gert Jan “has now been released” following “administrative confusion” over a change in the ship’s engine.

However, authorities later admitted that he was still being held by French authorities.

Macduff Shellfish, the owner of the boat, had the impression that he would stay in Le Havre at least until the end of the hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Rouen.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “The vessel concerned remains in port, having been detained by the French authorities.

The European Union said talks called with officials from France, the UK, Jersey and Guernsey will continue on Tuesday.

On Monday evening, just a few hours before the deadline set by Paris, the French president reportedly told journalists at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow: “Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal that I said to Prime Minister (Boris) Johnson.

“The talks must continue. I understand that the British will come back to us tomorrow with other proposals. All of this will be worked on.

“We’ll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed.

“My wish is that we can find a way out of all these problems. “

The UK has licensed 98% of EU vessels that have applied for permission to operate in UK waters.

But the dispute concerns the access of small boats under 12 meters wishing to fish in the British zone of 6 to 12 nautical miles.

The Paris government was angry that the UK had initially only granted 12 licenses out of 47 applications for smaller vessels, a figure which has now risen to 18.

Only boats which can prove that they have fished in UK waters for one day in each of the years between 2012 and 2016 are eligible for a license.

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson said the UK government’s stance on the fishing line had not changed, when asked if he had offered more generous terms to President Macron in order to keep the talks going.