Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has been accused of a “shameful betrayal” of fishermen after granting European boats access to UK waters as part of a new deal.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation insisted that the new deal “is a horror show for Scottish fishermen”.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government criticised UK ministers for the inclusion of fisheries – an area where responsibility is devolved to Holyrood – in the agreement without its approval on this.
Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson blasted the UK for having agreed a fisheries deal in principle “without any recourse, involvement or approval of devolved administrations”.
UK Govt has agreed a fisheries (devolved) deal with EU in principle, without any recourse, involvement or approval of Devolved Admins. Scottish Government received no documentation or draft proposals in advance. I asked UK minister last week for this. Nothing received. Reset?
— Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) May 19, 2025
He insisted that Scottish ministers had received no documentation on this in advance from their UK counterparts – as he questioned whether Labour’s promised “reset” of relations between Westminster and the devolved administrations had been achieved.
Mr Robertson stated: “Scottish Government received no documentation or draft proposals in advance.
“I asked UK minister last week for this. Nothing received. Reset?”
His comments came after it emerged that European fishing vessels will be given a further 12 years of access to British waters as part of the Prime Minister’s “reset” of relationships with Brussels.
A late-night deal was struck with the European Union ahead of Monday’s major summit with Brussels chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa.
There will be no change to current access to fish for coastal communities and no reduction in the British quota or increase in the quota the EU is allowed to catch, it is understood.
But the deal means European vessels will enjoy the same post-Brexit access they have had until 2038, 12 years after the current arrangement expires.
Scottish Conservative fishing spokesperson Tim Eagle hit out at that, saying: “This agreement is an absolute disaster for the Scottish fishing industry.
“Sir Keir Starmer and the UK Labour Government have not just surrendered to the European Union’s demands, they have totally capitulated to them.”
The Tory MSP said: “The deal is a shameful betrayal of our fishermen and will go down like a lead balloon in our coastal communities across Scotland. It is even worse than they feared.
“It proves that Sir Keir Starmer does not care about the industry and has no interest in defending the jobs and livelihoods it supports.
“This betrayal will never be forgiven by our fishermen.”
Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive of the SFF, reinforces that Scotland remains the backbone of the UK’s fishing industry, landing the vast majority of our catch from our own waters.#SaveScottishFisheries #FairDealNow #UKFishing #ScotlandFishing pic.twitter.com/KseuxnvJpP
— SFF (@sff_uk) May 18, 2025
Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, was also critical, saying: “This deal is a horror show for Scottish fishermen, far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement.
“It is clear that Sir Keir Starmer made the whole deal on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities, granting EU vessels 12 years of continuous access to UK waters at the last minute in order secure other objectives.
“This highlights the total indifference of the British political establishment to the interests of our fishing sector, with Sir Keir becoming the third prime minister after Edward Heath and (Boris) Johnson to betray the industry.”
She added that “giving away a national asset such as our rich and healthy fishing grounds for no discernible benefit” was a “disgrace”.
However, Phil Taylor, director of the marine conservation charity Open Seas, said: “The debate about the length of the fishing deal and the amount of access granted to EU boats is missing a key point, since some of the biggest UK fishing companies are EU owned, while a number of Scottish boats are still landing more than half their catch directly to the continent.
“The question politicians need to resolve is how this deal will actually deliver for our seas, and what conditions will be put on any fishing businesses accessing the public resource that is the sea – regardless of where they are from.”
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