Johnson: By 2026 British fishermen will have access to all the fish in our seas

BORIS Johnson has claimed British fishermen should prepare for an “El Dorado” despite many of them currently experiencing severe difficulties with red tape post-brexit and a fall-off in demand because of the coronavirus.

During PMQS, he was challenged by Labour’s Ben Bradshaw about increased bureaucracy following Britain’s departure from the EU as the Exeter MP asked: “When the Prime Minister told fishermen in the south-west that they would not face new export barriers or unnecessary form-filling, and when he told Britain’s musicians and artists they would still be free to tour and work in the rest of the European Union after Brexit, neither of those statements were correct, were they Prime Minister?”

The PM, who has referred to the problems the seafood industry has encountered with increased bureaucracy, replied: “It is absolutely true that some British fishermen have faced barriers at the present time owing to complications over form-filling. The reality is that Brexit will deliver and is delivering a huge uplift in quota, already the next five years, and by 2026 the fishing people of this country will have access to all the fish in all the territorial waters of this country.

“To get them ready, we’re investing £100 million in improving our boats, our fish processing industry and getting fishing ready for the opportunities ahead.”

But SDLP MP Claire Hanna urged Mr Johnson to “be straight with the people of Northern Ireland” over Brexit.

The Belfast South MP said: “Contrary to the view of every political party here and all of those involved in logistics and retail, [Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis] said last week that there’s no border in the

Irish Sea and that disruption to supplies was a Covid issue and nothing to do with Brexit or the Protocol.

“As we try to move on from Trump and Trump-ism, would being straight with the people of Northern Ireland not be a good start?”