Keir Starmer has been warned that giving EU fishing boats access to UK waters as part of a new post-Brexit deal would be “catastrophic for North East coastal communities”.
EU leaders will reportedly demand that the Labour leader makes concessions on fishing in return for his “reset” with the bloc when he visits Brussels for the first time as Prime Minister today (Wednesday).
These include long-term access to British waters for the European fishing fleet when the EU-UK fisheries deal expires in 2026.
Buckie-based Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle has written to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) amid fears Keir Starmer “will sell out fishermen” by offering up waters to European fleets, warning such a move would be disastrous for the industry.
It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a deal that would increase access after identifying fishing as a key issue in talks with the UK.
Buckie-based Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said: “Keir Starmer must not sell out Scottish fishermen by offering up access to UK waters to EU fishing boats.
“This would be catastrophic for North East coastal communities at a time when the fishing industry is prospering from the opportunities presented by leaving the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy.
“Scottish fishing fleets have had a far stronger voice in negotiations than when the UK was just one of 28 member states in the EU.
“That is why it’s vital the industry continues to have full access to our fish stocks so we can take advantage of our position outside the EU to independently negotiate in our fishing fleets best interest.
“Rather than betray our fishing industry, Keir Starmer must protect UK waters and not offer up access to the detriment of livelihoods that depend on the sector.”
