Big Interview with Scott Mann MP
Dom Garnett talks to Scott Mann, an MP determined to give angling a bigger voice
BALANCING time on the water with a busy life in politics is no mean feat, especially in the era of Brexit.
North Cornwall MP Scott Mann still loves to get out fishing whenever he can, however.
As a member of the All Party Parliamentary Angling Group, he’s also determined to make sure the sport has a voice in government.
Dom Garnett went to meet him on a rare day off at Walthamstow Reservoirs in London.
When you’re not in Parliament, Q what type of fishing do you enjoy the most?
Scott Mann You could probably say I’m a Jack-of-all-trades, master of none, although I absolutely love my fishing. I enjoy a bit of everything, basically. Carp fishing must be the most relaxing, and I love catching them on the surface. I also like going for bass in my local estuary and I find lure fishing especially good fun. I’ve done a fair bit of river fishing, too – I’m not great at it, but I can cast a fly.
Is it hard to find the time to get Q out on the bank? Being an MP and travelling from North Cornwall to Westminster every week must be quite full on?
SM Yes, the time constraints are huge. I’ve only managed to carp fish three times in the last year, so it’s quite difficult. Each week is generally four days in Parliament, then two days in constituency with only Sunday off, which doesn’t leave much space. I feel
like I’ve made up for lost time on this trip, though!
I should explain that you’ve just Q
landed a personal-best carp literally as I turned up and said hello today, Scott (reported in last week’s Angling Times)! Definitely a case of good timing, and I’m guessing you like it here on Walthamstow Reservoirs?
SM What can I say? It’s absolutely mad! I’d have been made up with a twenty, but a carp of 37lb 7oz is my best ever! I’m over the moon, in fact, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep tonight! Fish of this size are extremely rare where I’m from, I guess. It was very much an opportunist thing – a fish showed and I had a chod rig ready to go, so I thought ‘let’s give it a cast’. I must say, it’s a great looking venue. With all the wildlife you’d never think you were in London. I can’t wait to show the others in Parliament – they won’t believe it!
You’re one of the All Party
Q
Parliamentary Angling Group, originally set up by the Angling Trust’s Martin Salter when he was in Parliament. Tell us a bit more about it.
SM It’s a great thing for the sport and it’s fantastic to have people from various backgrounds and parties. Once the rods are out, our political differences melt away! There are more than a dozen of us active anglers and we like all the different sorts of fishing. We went bass fishing last year, but we’ve also done coarse and fly fishing.
When you think how many anglers there are in the country, having a voice in Parliament is vital. If you listen to the fisheries debates in the Commons, for example, yes, you’ll hear a lot about the commercial sector, but you also now get MPs from our group, like Charles Walker, who’ll stand up and speak for 10 minutes about recreational fishing.
Angling hasn’t always been well represented, but hopefully that’s changing, and I know the Angling Trust is lobbying hard on otter fencing, water management, cormorant licensing and other issues. We’ve also succeeded in getting angling represented on the Fisheries Bill, so that there’s mandatory representation for the sport in future.
As a Brexiteer, do you still
Q
see opportunities on the way? Are you not worried about environmental standards for fisheries and the countryside slipping? What are your hopes for the future?
SM There are definite opportunities there, and it could be huge for angling, especially sea fishing. As we look to regenerate in a post-Brexit world and help those communities who’ve felt neglected for so long, angling could be key for coastal areas.
Things like better access and healthier stocks can help, and I’m a big fan of devolving power on local matters, especially where wildlife and fisheries are concerned. We’ve already seen progress since gill netting bans, for example, with bass numbers on the up.
Most recently, I put forward a Bathing Waters Bill to try and stop companies discharging sewage into the sea.
I must say, every time I visit a school, I find today’s young people really engaged with
environmental issues and ready with big questions. They never fail to inspire me for the future.
When you do get a longer respite Q
from politics this summer, what are your plans?
SM That’s a tricky one. I’d love to catch a grayling, a fish I’ve never caught before. I’m also looking forward to fishing with the kids – I have three teenagers at home, but it’s probably my daughter who’s keenest. She loves carp fishing and Stafford Moor is perhaps our favourite venue.
One summer we were camping in Devon on another site that had an old pond at the bottom. The owners told us: “We don’t know what’s in it, but you’re welcome to have a cast.” My daughter used this tiny 7ft spinning rod and all we had for bait was luncheon meat, but she hooked a huge carp! It’s still her biggest, at 17lb, but we might beat that this summer!