Scots fishermen given '12 years of certainty' thanks to UK Government deal with EU
Scotland's fishing industry has been handed "12 years of certainty and stability" thanks to a new trade deal between the UK and EU, Ian Murray has insisted.
The Scottish Secretary said the "reset" of relations between London and Brussels would hand a major boost to all companies looking to sell their products on the continent.
But the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) described the deal as a "horror show" as it means there will be no negotiations on EU access to UK waters for over a decade.
The SNP, Reform UK and the Conservatives all criticised the deal and accused the UK Government of selling out fishermen.
Scottish ports land more than 60 per cent of the fish caught offshore by UK boats.
Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, disagreed with the SFF analysis. He said: "It gives 12 years of certainty and stability for the industry, it doesn't change any of the deal that was put in place in 2019, which is 25% more quotas for UK and Scottish trawlers and it gives wide access, of course to the new markets of the EU, in terms of pushing away all that red tape that was there before.
'Not one more fish will be taken out of Scottish waters by an EU trawler as part of this deal and that provides that stability and certainty.'
The description of the deal as 'dreadful', the minister said, 'just doesn't pass water'.
He added: 'I've been in business before and I would prefer 12 years of stability and security and certainty than an annual renegotiation that you may or may not win.'
The deal has also angered the Scottish Government, which said it had not been consulted on the fishing aspect of it despite the issue being devolved.
The UK Government asserts the agreement related to international trade, which is reserved to Westminster.
Murray rejected the Scottish Government claims, saying: 'The Scottish Government has been fully informed all the way through this process.
'The Paymaster General who's been doing the negotiations has kept them fully informed, there was an inter-ministerial grouping last week, two weeks ago there was a full briefing, and they were kept up to date as the negotiations were running through.'
The Scottish Government, Mr Murray added, 'have tied themselves in knots to set themselves against this deal', but he described it as 'good for consumers, it's good for business and it's good for Scotland's economy'.
Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said the last three inter-ministerial groups which would have discussed fishing were cancelled, adding engagement with the devolved administration was not about consulting on the deal, but informing them of progress.
'There were meetings with Nick Thomas-Symonds who gave a read out, 'here's where we have got to', not 'what do you think about things? Do you agree to things? Would you seek changes to things?'' he said.
The minister – who praised some aspects of the deal and the benefits it could have to Scotland – added the first the Scottish Government heard about the fisheries deal lasting for 12 years was when it was announced.
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