Tories ‘committed’ to scrapping unpopular parts of fisheries policy

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY Andrea Leadsom has reassured fishing leaders the UK will “look to disapply” the most unpopular parts of the Common Fisheries Policy when the UK exits the EU.

In a private letter to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), Ms Leadsom said “no decision has yet been made” on the extent to which the CFP would be incorporated into British law post-Brexit.

But she pledged that as the UK leaves the EU “we will look to disapply the key elements of the CFP that are most unpopular and unworkable for the UK as a coastal state”.

It is suggested this will include the EU quota-setting regime and the right of European boats to fish in UK waters.

“It is essential that we take the opportunity to develop a fisheries regime that is better-suited to our seas and industries,” the Environment Secretary said.

The letter was released in full at the same time as Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson campaigned in the fishing town of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in the run-up to the General Election.

It comes ahead of today’s launch of Ukip’s rival fisheries policy, with the party set to accuse the Conservatives of “[betraying] Britain’s fishing industry”.

However, commenting on the letter, SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said the document “makes it clear that the UK Government is committed to ensuring we exit the CFP and reassert control of our waters.”

“It is evident that the Government shares the determination of the entire industry to seize this opportunity to regenerate our coastal communities,” he said.