EU agreement welcomed by Livingston MP and Salmon Scotland as Scottish Government is shut out
Livingston's MP welcomed the announcement of the new agreement between the UK and the European Union.
Gregor Poynton MP pointed to 'broad support' from Scottish business for the deal which he says will bring significant benefits to industries north of the border.
However, he took a dig at Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who was critical of EU fishing rights in Scottish waters saying the industry had been 'surrendered away'.
The chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation described the deal as a 'horror show' but Gregor Poynton has highlighted supported for it from Salmon Scotland, the UK's biggest food exporter.
In a direct exchange with Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a parliamentary statement on the UK-EU Summit, Gregor Poynton asked the PM: 'When it comes to evaluating the merits of the deal, who would the Prime Minister suggest my Livingston constituents listen to?
'Should it be the Scottish Chamber of Commerce, the NFU Scotland or Scottish Salmon, all who have welcomed the deal? Or should they listen to John Swinney, who's lining up the Leader of the Opposition and the Member for Clacton [Nigel Farage] at a desperate, misguided attempt to try and create a constitutional grievance, a deal for which the Deputy First Minister has called 'important progress'?'
In response, the Prime Minister said he was 'surprised' to see Scotland's First Minister's opposition to the deal.
The new agreement with the European Union follows extensive negotiations over the past six months.
It includes a significant agreement that should make it easier for Scottish food and drink businesses to export products to EU markets by reducing red tape and bureaucracy that had placed burdens on businesses since Brexit.
Scottish Salmon witnessed a £75 million drop in exports to the EU from 2019 to 2023 due to increased red tape. Scottish seed potato farmers, who have been banned from selling their products in Europe since 2021, will also regain access to crucial EU markets.
According to the Labour government the agreement is set to benefit key Scottish industries including energy, agrifood, and defence sectors, which form a proportionally larger part of Scotland's economy compared to the UK as a whole.
In the energy sector, it's claimed the deal will make it cheaper and easier to sell electricity to the EU, potentially accelerating investment in offshore wind in the North Sea, creating jobs and cutting costs.
Scotland's External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson welcomed the closer co-operation between the UK and the EU and positive aspects of the agreement but labelled the decision not to involve the Scottish Government in any negotiations 'an affront to devolution'.
He said: 'The Scottish Government welcomes the agreement as it represents long-overdue momentum in rebuilding our relationship with the European Union. But no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020.
'We argued for an ambitious package in the interests of people and businesses across Scotland, and there are some positive indicators here, including the agriculture, food and drink agreement which will reduce market barriers; and enhanced cooperation on energy and climate, and a clear intention to rejoin the Erasmus exchange programme.
'The fact that this agreement – not least on fisheries – was reached without the explicit engagement of the devolved governments on the negotiation detail is not just an affront to devolution, it has put at risk, and will continue to put at risk, the benefits of any commitments for the people of Scotland.'
He added: 'We still believe Scotland's best future lies as an independent country within the European Union but we will engage constructively and positively in the next phase of negotiations. We also hope to see the UK Government work collaboratively with devolved governments in developing its priorities – as the EU does with its Member States.'
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