EU boats will not access our seas, say fishermen

SCOTS fishermen have condemned suggestions that European boats could retain widespread access to Britain’s waters as part of Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

Senior European diplomats want any temporary customs union to guarantee that EU vessels can continue to fish in UK waters.

But Scots Tory MPs said they will fight against any decision to dilute UK control of the fisheries industry.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) yesterday said EU access must only be granted ‘on UK terms’.

Several of the Tory MPs in the North-East of Scotland attribute their victories in last year’s election to the party’s commitment to getting Britain out of the Common Fisheries Policy and will fight any failure to deliver on taking back control.

Yesterday, the Daily Telegraph quoted a senior EU diplomat who said: ‘It is paramount that the UK gives assurances on the access of the European fleet to UK waters before the EU can agree to a UK-wide backstop.’

SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: ‘Taking charge of our own rich waters will happen at Brexit. The absolute key – our backstop – will be governance on UK terms.’

David Duguid, Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan, said: ‘The EU has taken this position from the outset, so this should come as no surprise. However, the UK position has also been consistent. We will have control over our own waters – for the first time in more than 40 years.’