Macron threat to keep fishing in UK waters

BRITAIN must open its waters to French fishing fleets after Brexit or face being locked into a permanent customs union, Emmanuel Macron warned yesterday.

The French president admitted he will push for fishing rights which would make a mockery of Theresa May’s claim that Britain will become an ‘independent coastal state’.

He said he will use the issue as leverage during the transition period, when negotiations over a future trade deal will begin. Both sides are aiming to have a fishing deal agreed by July 2020 and an overall deal by the end of the transition period that December.

If a deal is not in place, the UK may be forced to enter into a customs union as part of the so-called Irish backstop, which it could not get out of without Brussels’ consent.

Speaking moments after EU leaders agreed the draft Brexit deal in Brussels yesterday, Mr Macron suggested he would use this along with other demands to secure access to British waters. He said: ‘It is a lever, because it is in our mutual interest to have this future relationship.

‘I can’t imagine that the desire of Theresa May or her supporters is to remain for the long term in a customs union, but to define a proper future relationship which resolves this problem.’

The threat is likely to infuriate MPs already angry at the idea that Britain could trade access to waters for tariff-free access to the EU’s market.

In a further provocation, the leaders of the EU nations published side demands – that future fishing rights must be based on ‘existing’ access to British waters and that the bloc ‘demonstrate particular vigilance’ to ‘protect fishing enterprises’.

Some MPs warned anything less than regaining ‘complete control’ over domestic waters would amount to a ‘betrayal’. Yesterday, Scottish Tory MP Ross Thomson said: ‘ The arrangement we have has been devastating for fishing communities across Scotland and the UK. It’s in the interests of the EU to keep it going.’

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez yesterday vowed to use his ‘position of strength’ to gain further control over Gibraltar. Asked if Spain wants talks on joint sovereignty after Britain leaves the EU, he said: ‘We will discuss all issues.’