Tories threaten a revolt over fishing quotas

THERESA May will hold crisis talks with Scottish Tories today after they threatened to veto the final Brexit deal unless it secures ‘full control’ of the UK’s fishing grounds.

Under the terms of yesterday’s pact, the EU will fix fishing quotas in British waters during the Brexit transition period. UK officials will not be in the room when the decisions are made, but Brexit Secretary David Davis insisted that Britain would still be ‘consulted’ on the quotas, and said the share awarded to UK boats would not be reduced.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a 60-strong group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs, said he would board a boat and throw fish into the Thames outside Parliament to protest the ‘sell-out’.

Scottish Tory MPs warned they could block the final Brexit deal unless they get guarantees that ministers will not trade away access to fishing grounds.

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said: ‘I will not support a deal as we leave the EU which, over the long-term, fails to deliver full control over fish stocks and vessel access.’

Douglas Ross, one of 13 Scottish Tory MPs at Westminster, said: ‘There is no spinning this as a good outcome.’

Downing Street insisted that the Prime Minister is determined to secure a ‘fairer share’ of fishing stocks.