Fisher folk voted to leave Europe

SIR, – After a recent visit to Peterhead and Fraserburgh fish markets Mr Ian Blackford (leader of SNP MPs in Westminster) made an almost credible statement to the press about the likely disaster facing our fishermen if a Brexit deal is completed. I don’t know where he got that thought from – certainly not from the Scottish fishing communities that voted to leave in 2016.

They voted to leave the EU and get out of the CFP, and to take back control of our fishing grounds, and revitalise the fish-based economy of many of the coastal areas of Scotland. The SNP wants to be in the EU and, of course, our fishing grounds if that took place would be controlled from Brussels – not a good deal. Mind you, there are certain MPs who represent Scottish fishing communities who are showing a confidence that a good deal will be done for the fishing industry. This confidence is not generally shared by many of the people they represent. Many of them still feel that fishing will be sacrificed as part of a Brexit settlement agreement as happened in 1973 and indeed not what they voted for in 2016.

Ken Watmough, Broomhill Terrace, Aberdeen