Gove: Leaving EU will offer our fishermen a sea of opportunity

MICHAEL Gove yesterday accused Nicola Sturgeon of trying to ‘manufacture grievance’ as he claimed leaving the European Union will create a ‘sea of opportunity’ for the UK fishing industry.

The new Environment Secretary said the First Minister had failed to seek consensus on Brexit and had instead used it to push for another independence referendum.

Mr Gove was in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, where he met Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation. Mr Gove said Brexit will enable the industry to ‘dramatically increase’ the fish catches and set a ‘far more sensible, environmentally-wise policy’. He added that he did not think anyone envisaged anything other than a free trade arrangement between Britain and the EU.

Mr Gove told BBC Good Morning Scotland that if Miss Sturgeon hopes for ‘open, inclusive’ discussion with UK ministers over any specialised deals for Scotland she must alter her approach. He said: ‘So far, instead of seeking consensus, she has tried to manufacture grievance.’