Betrayal of entire industry

TAKING back control of our waters was one of the main planks of the Brexit campaign and one of the most important aspects of negotiations with the EU.

When the Trade Deal was announced, No. 10 reported that the outcome was a victory for Britain on fishing. On December 28, Michael Gove stated in the Scotsman newspaper that in 2026 British fishermen ‘will be taking two thirds of our marine wealth - a sizeable uplift.’ At the last Prime Minister’s Question Time, Boris Johnson stated that ‘Brexit is delivering a huge uplift in quota.’

They are, of course, both wrong; at the moment British fishermen have a quota of 50% of fish caught in British waters, after five and a half years that quota is to increase to 58%, a mere 8% uplift. The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has described this as ‘minuscule, marginal, paltry, pathetic.’ As an example, they quote that after the five years adjustment period, the UK’s share of Channel cod will have increased from 9.5% to 10.2%.

Following the deal, the need for an astronomic increase in red tape was described by Environment Secretary, George Eustace, as ‘teething problems’ and downplayed by Boris Johnson as ‘complications over form filling.’ He went on to state that: ‘alas, there is a decline in appetite for fish in continental markets just because most of the restaurants are shut.’

Sadly, the decline in ‘appetite’ is actually because, after waiting days at the border, the British fish is rotten.

Boris Johnson said that ‘By 2026, the fishing people of this country will have access to all the fish in all the territorial waters of this country’ and described this as ‘Eldorado’. The Trade Deal states that in 2026, should Britain reduce EU quotas, the EU will have the right to put tariffs on fish exports and, in fact, any other product they wanted. The NFFO know that this is yet another wild claim by Boris Johnson, which he will be unable to fulfil.

Their anger was summed up when they stated: “Throughout the fishing industry there is a profound sense of disillusionment, betrayal and fury that after all the rhetoric, promises and assurances, the Government caved in on fish.”

This whole sorry saga proves once more that this is a Government which cannot be trusted, has been shown to be incompetent, and is willing to lie for its own political gain.

Mike Baldwin

via email

POLICE MUST GET JAB

MANY readers will be surprised to hear that the police are not seen as ‘frontline workers’ as they have not been offered the vaccination.

My daughter’s partner is very ill, as are many of his colleagues. It’s hard to keep socially distanced when you are arresting a violent or aggressive person! Added to this, working long shifts at all hours creates stress that lowers resistance to infection.

I feel it is very short-sighted of the Government not to have included the police force in its vaccination programme.

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via email

WE’RE ALL LIFESAVERS

NO wonder the UK has the worst death rate from Covid.

So many walking around with no masks on – groups of people meeting up on bikes, joggers, walkers – every group you can think of, even dog walkers.

Why can’t people just go along with the rules, whether they believe it or not, just in case, and save lives?

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