Something fishy about PM’s claims
DEAR Editor, 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, Downing Street 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 per cent of fish caught in British waters, after five and a half years that quota is to increase to 58 per cent, a mere eight per cent uplift.
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has described this as ‘‘miniscule, marginal, paltry, pathetic’.’
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.