The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
No compromise from PM over Brexit fishing talks
NEGOTIATIONS: Johnson vows not to ‘sacrifice’ fishing industry once more
Boris Johnson has declared there can be no compromise over fisheries in Brexit negotiations, as talks with Brussels remained deadlocked on the issue.
The prime minister conceded that the UK’S demands on the issue looked a “tall order” but vowed the industry would not be sacrificed again and insisted there was “a good deal to be done”.
He delivered the bullish declaration on a visit to the north-east just hours after the EU’S chief negotiator said the government’s “unacceptable” stance meant agreement by the end of the year looked “unlikely”.
“I think there is every reason for us to be very optimistic about getting a deal and I am very hopeful we will get a deal,” Mr Johnson told reporters at RAF Lossiemouth.
“But as our chief negotiator David Frost said, there are some things that we simply can’t compromise over.
“People understand the arguments about the level playing field and about fisheries. And there is no point in leaving the EU if you remain locked in the lunar pull of the EU and you are unable to do things differently. Everybody understands that. I think the EU also understands that.”
The PM added: “In the early 1970s we basically handed over control of our fisheries. We gave up our fisheries in the last throes of the Heath negotiations in a way that permanently disadvantaged UK fishers and Scottish fishers and now is the time to change that.
“I am sure there is a good deal to be done.”
When asked if the deal would be done by the end of the year, Mr Johnson answered: “Yes.”
UK chief negotiator David Frost earlier said differences on access to waters remained “substantial” and said the lack of progress has led to no-deal preparations being relaunched.
Mr Frost said: “It is unfortunately clear that we will not reach in July the ‘early understanding on the principles underlying any agreement’ that was set as an aim at the high-level meeting on June 15.
“Considerable gaps remain in the most difficult areas, that is, the so-called level playing field and on fisheries.
“We have always been clear that our principles in these areas are not simple negotiating positions, but expressions of the reality that we will be a fully independent country at the end of the transition period.”
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU and UK have until “October at the latest” to strike a deal or risk the imposition of quotas and tariffs.
He said: “If we do not reach an agreement on our future partnership, there will be far more friction. For instance, on trading goods, in addition to new customs formalities there will be tariffs and quotas.
“This is the truth of Brexit and I will continue to tell the truth.”