FLEETS LOSING MI££ION A WEEK
Fury over Brexit red tape
A THIRD of the Scottish fishing fleet is tied up in harbour and losing £1million a week because of Brexit red tape.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford accused Boris Johnson of selling them out as a result of Brexit.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, he highlighted the case of an exporter who had lost a £40,000 load of seafood this week because “Brexit red tape” was causing fresh and highquality produce to be lost.
Blackford said Gordon Cameron, of GC Shellfish, was having “his worst nightmare” under Brexit.
He challenged Johnson: “Can the Prime Minister tell my constituent where is the sea of opportunity he and his Scottish Tories promised?”
Johnson avoided a direct answer but said the UK Government was putting £100million into supporting the fishing industry across the UK.
Blackford called for a rise in the financial support of fered to businesses following the UK’s exit from the EU, adding: “The EU have put in place a £5billion fund to support businesses with the cost of Brexit and last night it was revealed that Ireland is receiving £1billion of it.
“Can the Prime Minister tell Scottish business when they will be getting the same level of support?”
Scots seafood exporters have called for an urgent review of the “mountain of paperwork” needed to send shellfish to the continent. Meanwhile, UK Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis has admitted she was too “busy” organising a Christmas nativity to focus on reading the Brexit fishing d eal with the EU.