Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Leaked text of an EU statement, due to be published this Sunday, has sparked anger across Scotland’s fishing communities by suggesting European fishing fleets will have continued access to Scottish and UK waters beyond 2020 under current terms.
The text suggests that the UK will have to agree to maintain current levels of access if it wants to secure a longer transition period.
Earlier this month, Scotland’s 13 Tory MPs, including Scottish Secretary David Mundell, penned a letter to the Prime Minister outlining that any agreement preventing the UK from independently negotiating access and quota shares would be unsupportable and a “betrayal of Scotland”.
Ruth Davidson has previously insisted this would be a “red line” issue for her.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast Stewart Stevenson said:
“Sunday’s crucial EU Brexit Summit is the moment of truth for Ruth Davidson, David Mundell and all the Tory MPs.
“Scotland’s Tory MPs could not have been any clearer - anything short of full control over access and quotas would be a complete ‘betrayal’ of Scotland’s fishing communities.
“Yet increasingly it looks like this bad withdrawal deal will do exactly that. Scotland’s fishing industry could end up with precisely no gains whatsoever from Brexit. Worse, we would still be in the CFP but without even having a voice or a say in negotiations during a transition period – which could of course be extended beyond 2020.
“It looks as though the Tories are preparing yet again to sell out Scotland’s fishing industry. That would simply be unforgiveable. It will be a disgrace if the Scottish Tories go along with any deal which does not deliver what they promised our fishing communities from Brexit."
“Scotland’s Tory MPs could not have been any clearer - anything short of full control over access and quotas would be a complete ‘betrayal’ of Scotland’s fishing communities.
“Yet increasingly it looks like this bad withdrawal deal will do exactly that. Scotland’s fishing industry could end up with precisely no gains whatsoever from Brexit. Worse, we would still be in the CFP but without even having a voice or a say in negotiations during a transition period – which could of course be extended beyond 2020.
“It looks as though the Tories are preparing yet again to sell out Scotland’s fishing industry. That would simply be unforgiveable. It will be a disgrace if the Scottish Tories go along with any deal which does not deliver what they promised our fishing communities from Brexit."
