No progress in London talks on fishing and farming, warns Ewing

There has been no progress in arrangements for agricultural, fishing and environmental industries post-brexit, according to Scotland’s rural affairs secretary.

Fergus Ewing was speaking after a devolved administration meeting with UK ministers in London yesterday.

He said support for agricultural and fishing priorities in Scotland is being put at risk due to the UK Government’s “continued failure to provide certainty over the future of EU funding”.

Mr Ewing said: “Despite positive talks with ministers, the UK Government has failed to enable real progress to be made on the approach agreed by the Joint Ministerial Committee.

“Worse, UK Defra ministers tried to amend that process which they know full well has the highest support of all our governments.

“The Scottish Government remains steadfast in its resolve to defend the devolution settlement.

“We will not sign a blank cheque that expects us to sign up to potential post-brexit frameworks and legislation without knowing any of the detail of those.

“UK ministers have yet to provide absolute clarity on future funding which prevents us and the sectors to plan for the future, nor have they given us sight of their proposed bills on agriculture and fisheries.

“Until the power grab is removed from the EU Withdrawal Bill, we can continue to have cordial discussions but little progress will be made.”