New ‘Cod War’ fear over Navy threat to EU

Tory minister’s ‘gunboat diplomacy’ in Brexit fishing row

BRITAIN was accused of “gunboat diplomacy” last night after “threatening” Brussels with the Royal Navy over fishing disputes.

Negotiators must make real progress by June 30 in a new relationship between the UK and EU or risk a no trade deal by December 31.

But talks are deadlocked, with fishing rights a major battleground.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the EU wants access to British seas, while limiting UK access to its markets.

UK chief Brexit negotiator David Frost said the bloc was seeking continued access to UK fishing waters after the transition period “in a way that is incompatible with our future status as an independent coastal state”. After Tory MP Julian Lewis questioned how the Government would police any rules, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey hinted Navy ships could be mobilised.

He said there are “three river class offshore patrol vessels in UK waters, that conduct fishery patrol alongside other tasks. In addition, the Navy maintains a number of high-readiness forces in UK waters that could be called upon.”

The warning raises the prospect of clashes between UK warships and EU trawlers. Lib Dem leadership hopeful, Layla Moran, said it revived memories of the

Cod Wars between Britain and Iceland in the 60s and 70s. The Oxford West MP said it was time for “grown-up discussion” not “gunboat diplomacy,” a 19th-century term referring to a nation displaying its naval power to get its own way.

She said: “These countries are our friends and allies… the Government should thrash out Brexit relatedissues around the negotiating table, not on the high seas.

“The Government is threatening Brussels with the Royal Navy. The Cod Wars have been consigned to history. No one needs or wants a Bream Battle to take its place.”

In August 2018, fishermen from the UK and France clashed off Normandy.