Call for 'no sell-out by Starmer' as UK waters heat up in EU talks, says UK Fisheries Campaign
Latest fightback comes with urgent fishing debate in Scottish Parliament today
Montage © Facts4EU.Org
SNP Government urged to drop its support for EU Common Fisheries Policy and to ensure Starmer doesn't sell out UK fishermen
With Sir Keir Starmer strongly tipped to capitulate to the EU at a summit in three weeks' time, waters are already getting close to boiling point. Today in the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood a motion is being brought which is of concern to fishermen across the UK. Whilst the motion addresses devolved fishing in Scotland, the points it makes apply in coastal communities around the country.
It addresses fishing and the imminent danger of a deal being done in principle by Sir Keir Starmer in the lead up to his ‘reset’ summit with the EU on 19 May. According to several sources, this would guarantee that the current fishing deal between the UK and the EU that has existed for almost five years - and which is soon up for renewal - would remain broadly intact.
The large EU fishing fleet would then continue to have access to UK waters from the UK’s 200 mile Economic Exclusion Zone limit right up to 12 miles from our shores – and up to six miles for some boats.
The motion is being proposed by Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands Region and the Conservatives’ Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Fishing. The motion reads as follows.
'Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry'
Submitted by: Tim Eagle MSP, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 28 April 2025
Date of debate: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Motion reference: S6M-17360
Attribution: Reinhold Möller Creative Commons licence
- “That the Parliament expresses its deep concern at reports that the UK Government Labour administration may agree a deal with the EU that enhances access for EU fishing vessels to UK waters;
- understands that the reported deal could result in a multi-year access guarantee as opposed to annual negotiations between the UK and the EU;
- believes that Scotland’s domestic fishing industry is a significant contributor to the economy and that every effort should be made to support it during trade negotiations;
- notes that the existing fisheries deal between the EU and the UK is not perfect, but that it took the sector out of the Common Fisheries Policy;
- acknowledges that the UK Labour administration’s potential new deal would turn a good opportunity to build on this foundation into a missed opportunity that represents a backwards step for the sector as bad as the Common Fisheries Policy;
- calls on the Scottish Government to drop its support for the Common Fisheries Policy and do all that it can to ensure that the UK Labour administration does not sell out the Scottish fishing industry as part of its talks with the EU, and believes that there should be an annual debate on fisheries to highlight its importance to Scotland’s economy.”
Yesterday Mr Eagle spoke exclusively to The UK Fisheries Campaign (UKFC) and Facts4EU.Org
We invited him to explain the reason for his motion and why he had tabled it so urgently, as it had only been submitted on Monday of this week.
Tim Eagle MSP, speaking to Facts4EU and the UK Fisheries Campaign
“It is well-known and accepted by the majority of people that the current arrangements between the EU and the UK as a result of the fisheries section of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement require a great deal of improvement and that our fishermen are deeply unhappy about a great many aspects of it. It can at least be said that the existing arrangement did at least take us out of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy but there remains considerable room for improvement.
“As your UK Fisheries Campaign has highlighted so successfully, there is an opportunity arising very soon because the current arrangements with the EU terminate in just over a year’s time. This means negotiations starting imminently, as they have a habit of lasting a very long time before agreement is reached.”
“Now, however, we have an even more urgent problem.”
“As the UK Fisheries Campaign has also made clear, it seems Brussels require some form of commitment from the Labour Prime Minister at a summit in three weeks’ time for maintaining or improving the status quo for them – the EU – or they will not do a deal with him on other matters such as a defence pact.
“My motion sets out to recognise the importance of fishing to the Scottish economy and to highlight the need to significantly improve the situation for our fishermen. It also invites the Scottish Government to drop its support for the Common Fisheries Policy [CFP] and at the same time to defend Scottish fishing from being used as a bargaining chip to be tossed overboard by Sir Keir Starmer in order for him to achieve his other objectives with the EU.
“Either the Scottish Government stands with our fishermen or they don’t. They should finally denounce the CFP and at the same time call on the Prime Minister not to give an inch on fishing at the PM’s May summit. If they do neither of these things during the debate, then I think we know what most people’s verdict will be.
“Whatever the outcome of the debate, I confirm that we will continue to support the UK Fisheries Campaign and the fight will go on.”
- Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, 29 Apr 2025
Fishing is right back as a totemic issue: "Our waters. Our control."
Readers will recall from the days of the EU Referendum campaign how the control of the UK's waters became a symbol for many people of what independence from the EU meant. Now it seems the issue is coming back front and centre. The UK Fisheries Campaign - a non-partisan campaign concerned only with reviving the UK fishing industry and coastal communities - has been active and has seen a huge interest from the public in ensuring that the renegotiation of the EU fishing deal puts control of UK waters back firmly where it belongs - with the United Kingdom.
Below is a little promotion which the Campaign has done, which takes you through to their website. Standard Membership is currently available at 50% off and they are urging as many people as possible to join today.
© The UK Fisheries Campaign 2025
Observations
We will report back on how today's debate went. Suffice to say we do not expect to see any change in position from the SNP government in Scotland, who seem to care far more for the rights of EU fishermen than they do for the rights and livelihoods of their own.
Please, please help us to carry on our vital work in defence of independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom by donating today. Thank you.
[ Sources: Tim Eagle MSP | Scottish Parliament ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.
Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wed 30 Apr 2025
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