Tories need to convince voters, says FM

Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not be the one having to “convince” north-east voters and fishermen “betrayed” by Brexit why the SNP should have their vote.

Asked how she planned on convincing voters who may have voted in favour of leaving the EU in 2016, Ms Sturgeon said the “utter betrayal” of the fishing industry since leaving the transition period would have an impact on the Scottish Conservative vote more than the SNP.

Fishermen and the fishing industry said they had lost millions of pounds in revenue since the beginning of the year, after the UK left the transition period, calling the promises made by the Westminster government on fishing a “betrayal”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously called the issues “teething problems” before establishing a £23 million compensation scheme for those worst hit.

Asked how she would convince those in the fishing industry who disliked the Common Fisheries Policy that Scottish Independence and re-entry to the EU would be best for them, Ms Sturgeon said there would need to be changes made from within, which they could do as an independent state.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross denied Brexit had been a “disaster” but acknowledged the compensation scheme set up to help the fishing industry was the right thing to do.

He said: “We have our governments working together in a joint taskforce which also includes industry representation.”