Andy Burnham criticised for refusing to reverse 'horrorshow' EU fishing deal
Prime Minister and EC leader stress need to ‘rapidly conclude’ sharing deal arrangement on fishing stocks
Andy Burnham has been branded “another anti-fishing Prime Minister” after a leaked document suggests he will not reverse the EU’s access to UK fishing waters.
Last year, former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new Brexit deal which extended EU fishing quotas in UK waters to 2038.
At the time First Minister John Swinney said the UK had “surrendered” its fishing industry and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation described it as a “horrorshow”.
However a leaked draft of the proposed UK-EU statement, which is expected to be officially delivered in Brussels on November 20, “welcomes” European boats keeping “full reciprocal access” to British fishing waters until 2038 with no plans to revisit the deal.
In the document Mr Burnham and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stress the need to “rapidly conclude” a comprehensive sharing arrangement on fishing stocks.
The document said “we agree to work together to give a perspective to our joint fisheries in the Celtic Sea” and said the partnership will put measures in place to stop the “drastic downward trend negatively impacting fishers and coastal communities in the UK and the EU”.
It also acknowledged the “need to work together for the sustainability” of certain species and said they “have to join efforts” on sharing arrangements.
The document has been criticised by Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East James Adams, who says Mr Burnham is “cut from the same cloth as Keir Starmer by surrendering Scotland’s fishing rights to Brussels.
He said: “This revelation has shown Andy Burnham is another anti-fishing Prime Minister just like his predecessor.
“He is nothing more than a second version of Keir Starmer, who is cut from the exact same cloth with this pursuit to dismantle Scotland’s fishing industry.
“The upcoming UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20 is set to have disastrous consequences for our vital fishing industry, only 18 months on from Starmer’s shameful surrender of our fishing waters.
“Fishermen are rightly worried about being dragged back into the hated common fisheries policy, which would be the last straw for many within the sector.”
He added: “Since leaving the EU and the common fisheries policy, Scottish fishing fleets have had a far stronger voice in negotiations than when the UK was just one of 28 member states within it.
“Rather than selling out our fishing industry, Andy Burnham must publish a clear recovery plan for the sector, guarantee a fairer quota share, reconsider access before 2038, and provide meaningful support for the communities bearing the cost of these damaging ties with the EU.”
A UK Government spokesman said: “This is a draft EU document that has not been agreed by the UK.
“We are committed to protecting the UK fishing industry and have invested £360 million to support the next generation of fishers, while providing tax relief to address the rising cost of fuel.
“Our food and drink deal will slash red tape and costly paperwork, make it easier and cheaper to export seafood, boost the British economy by up to £5 billion a year, and back British businesses and jobs.”
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has been approached for comment.
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