Fishing Leaders Warn of Tory Sell Out in Brexit Talks

Leaked EU Memo: Tories Gearing Up To Roll Back On Fishing Promises
Fishing leaders have warned the UK government not to sell out Scotland’s seafood industry after a leaked EU memo suggests the Tories will roll back on key promises.

According to the Press & Journal, the European Council has promised its members it will “demonstrate particular vigilance … in protecting fishing enterprises and coastal communities” – rubbishing the Tories’ promises that the UK will have complete control of its waters after Brexit.

Last week, Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform, told a Holyrood committee that senior UK Government officials had indicated they would “trade-off” or “bargain” with Scottish fishing to “get a better deal on financial services.” He added that the UK is prepared to “give access to EU boats in our waters otherwise we won’t be able to get anything on financial services.”

Commenting, SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said:

“Despite the Tories promises, Scotland’s fishing industry could end up with precisely no gains whatsoever from Brexit.

“Worse still, it looks like our fishermen could be subject to CFP rules without even having a voice or a say on the inside.

“Boris Johnson needs to be held to account for his false promises – the Tories sold out Scottish fishermen on the way into Europe, and they’ll do the same on the way out.

“We’re just days away from crashing out of the EU against our will – it’s time for some honesty from the Tories on how they intend to secure a close economic partnership with Europe without putting fishing on the table.”