Latest news with #LabourUK
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
UK EU fishing deal: 12-year agreement branded 'biggest act of betrayal' to Scottish fishermen
EU leaders are in London to broker a new Brexit deal with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A new 12-year deal on fishing access to UK waters has been branded 'one of the biggest acts of betrayal'. EU leaders are meeting in London on Monday to announce a new Brexit deal, including improved trading rights for food, a security pact and a youth mobility scheme. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the first things to be announced is a 12-year deal on fishing access for EU boats in UK waters. Trawler men unload their catch at Peterhead fish market, Scotland; there have been reports of imports of Scottish fish being turned back at Belfast port The new deal will last until 2038, according to EU diplomats, and is expected to be a rollover of the existing terms. Harriet Cross, the Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, said: 'Starmer's surrender is one of the biggest acts of betrayal that our fishing industry has seen in Scotland. 'It's absolutely shameful that the Labour UK government has capitulated to Brussels by agreeing a 12-year deal to hand over fishing access to EU boats in UK waters. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our fishermen have been used as a pawn by Keir Starmer, which will result in catastrophic consequences for our coastal communities. 'This is a complete abandonment of our fishing fleets, when the industry should be benefiting from the opportunities presented by leaving the EU and the common fisheries policy. 'I will now be looking to raise urgent questions with the Prime Minister and the Labour UK government on the matter.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland's External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has also criticised the deal for not involving the Scottish Government in negotiations. Posting on social media, he said: 'UK government has agreed a fisheries [devolved] deal with [the] EU in principle, without any recourse, involvement or approval of devolved administrations. '[The] Scottish Government received no documentation or draft proposals in advance. I asked UK ministers last week for this. Nothing received. Reset?' Under the trade agreement struck with the EU by former prime minister Boris Johnson back in 2020, the EU's share of fish quotas in British waters was reduced by 25 per cent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The deal is ending in June 2026, and annual negotiations were to take place on fishing rights beyond this date.
The Herald Scotland
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
UK extends EU fishing rights to 2038 in Brexit deal reset
READ MORE The move has provoked an angry backlash. Angus Robertson, the SNP Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs, said the Scottish Government had not been consulted. '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.' 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 Harriet Cross, the Scottish Tory MP whose Gordon and Buchan constituency takes in a number of fishing communities in the north east, described the deal as "one of the biggest acts of betrayal that our fishing industry has seen in Scotland." She added: 'It's absolutely shameful that the Labour UK Government has capitulated to Brussels by agreeing a 12-year deal to hand over fishing access to EU boats in UK waters. 'Our fishermen have been used as a pawn by Keir Starmer, which will result in catastrophic consequences for our coastal communities. 'This is a complete abandonment of our fishing fleets, when the industry should be benefiting from the opportunities presented by leaving the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy. 'I will now be looking to raise urgent questions with the Prime Minister and the Labour UK Government on the matter.' According to PA, the deal has now been approved by the EU ambassadors' committee. Full details are expected to be announced at the first UK-EU summit on Monday, at which Sir Keir will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days. Starmer and von der Leyen are due to announce details of the deal later (Image: Leon Neal/PA) Reports suggest the fisheries deal helped unlock a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to remove most border checks on British food exports to the EU — a longstanding concern for British exporters. In exchange, the UK has accepted dynamic alignment with EU food and animal welfare rules and the oversight of the European Court of Justice. However, officials say they avoided a formal treaty link between fishing and the SPS deal — a key EU ask that could have constrained UK sovereignty further. The Prime Minister is expected to defend the agreement in a speech later today, arguing it will boost economic growth, reduce energy bills, and strengthen UK border security. 'There is a real prize here for the UK,' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Times Radio, calling the deal a 'pragmatic' correction of the gaps left by the original Brexit settlement. Under the agreement, the EU will allow British travellers to use e-gates at European airports — a move that could ease long queues at borders. There will also be efforts to reduce bureaucracy for British artists touring the EU, another high-profile Brexit aftershock. The UK will also work towards rejoining the Erasmus student exchange scheme, and commit to negotiations on a youth mobility visa scheme. Although the details remain to be negotiated, the EU is pushing for fee reductions and NHS surcharge waivers for young Europeans in the UK, while Britain wants limits on the number of entrants and the duration of visas. READ MORE The UK and EU will deepen defence ties, including cooperation on joint operations, military mobility and security policy coordination. British soldiers could take part in EU-led missions, though concerns remain in Whitehall over potential conflicts with NATO structures. As part of the arrangement, UK defence companies such as BAE Systems and Babcock will be eligible to bid for at least 35 per cent of contracts under a €150 billion EU defence procurement fund — but will have to 'pay to play'. The two sides also agreed to hold biannual meetings between the UK's foreign and defence secretaries and the EU High Representative, and issued a joint statement of support for Ukraine. On migration, both sides recognised the need to cooperate with origin and transit countries to tackle irregular Channel crossings. Britain is pressing for limited returns agreements for asylum seekers who have already claimed refuge in EU countries, but any such commitments remain vague. The UK is also seeking real-time access to EU databases on asylum claims and illegal entries — a capability lost after Brexit — though the EU has resisted full integration due to legal concerns. On energy, the UK and EU will align their carbon trading schemes and make it easier to build cross-border electricity interconnectors. British ministers say the move will allow the UK to export surplus wind power and import French nuclear energy, helping to stabilise the grid and reduce bills. The agreements must still be formally endorsed by both sides' political leaders, but no major objections are expected.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Labour is positive about immigration while recognising the system must change
I'm married to a French national, my children are bilingual and my extended family live and work all over the world so I know that immigration enriches our communities socially, culturally and economically. But it is possible to be positive about the contribution immigration plays to our communities while, at the same time, wanting a system that is controlled, ordered and fair. The reality is net migration has quadrupled in just four years, reaching unprecedented levels, this happened while employer investment in training the UK workforce fell. This, alongside years of austerity, strained public services, and a lack of houses and decent jobs for our young people bred a lack of trust in the system. That lack of trust doesn't come from one single issue, and politicians who claim otherwise are simply wrong about the moment we are in. Immigration is not the source of all our problems but it's not the solution to all of them either. We need a balanced approach to maximising the benefits and minimising the costs. This Labour UK Government ended austerity with more money for public services like our NHS in Scotland than ever before and the biggest upgrade in workers rights for a generation which should directly benefit social care staff. Now we are setting out targeted reforms which will help attract highly skilled individuals to drive innovation in Scotland's key sectors such as renewable energy, life sciences, and technology. We are also increasing the skills threshold for work visas to degree level – making sure skilled work truly means skilled work and ending the reliance on lower skilled overseas labour that grew under the last government. We are also going to support refugees who have been officially granted protection status in the UK to apply for employment through existing worker routes where they have the skills to do so. We want to see the Scottish Government step up and do more to support skills for working class young people in Scotland. Instead, college places are at their lowest level in a decade and facing further cuts from the SNP this year. Meanwhile more than 1,300 kids – the equivalent of a full high school – left school last year with no qualifications to their name at all. Failing public services, a lack of investment, fewer opportunities for young people, increased net migration. All these issues combine to break down trust in the system. All across the country people are scunnered. A government of service to working people addresses those concerns, a government of service to its party won't.
The Herald Scotland
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Ian Murray: Labour's immigration plan is fair and balanced
Most people – including most immigrants – want a functioning system that is orderly, predictable and fair. Nobody could describe our current situation as that. The Tories broke the system, deliberately, in a callous move as a political experiment. READ MORE The reality is that net migration has quadrupled in just four years, reaching unprecedented levels. This happened while employer investment in training the UK workforce fell, reducing opportunities for people here to secure work, get on and contribute. This, alongside years of austerity, strained public services, and a lack of houses and decent jobs for our young people, has bred a lack of trust in the system. That lack of trust does not come from one single issue, and politicians who claim otherwise are simply wrong about the moment we are in. Immigration is not the source of all our problems, but it is not the solution to all of them either. We need a balanced approach to maximising the benefits and minimising the costs. This Labour UK Government ended austerity with more money for public services in Scotland than ever before, and the biggest upgrade in workers' rights for a generation. Now we are setting out targeted reforms which will help attract highly skilled individuals to drive innovation in Scotland's key sectors such as renewable energy, life sciences and technology. We are also increasing the skills threshold for work visas to degree level – making sure skilled work truly means skilled work and ending the reliance on lower-skilled overseas labour that grew under the last UK Government. We are also going to support refugees who have been officially granted protection status in the UK to apply for employment through existing worker routes where they have the skills to do so. And we are enhancing the opportunities for exceptional talent to come to the UK, integrate and contribute to the economy. We will increase the number of places for research interns, including those working in AI, make it simpler for top scientific and design talent to come to the UK, and reform the Innovator Founder visa to help international graduates build businesses in the UK – supercharging growth in our key industries. Sadly, all of this is in sharp contrast with an SNP Scottish Government which is, as usual, moving fast on incendiary rhetoric but going slow on actually improving the lives of people in Scotland. I suggest it is the lack of housing, college places, the poor connectivity and infrastructure, and long NHS waiting times – all the things the SNP Scottish Government are responsible for. We want to see the Scottish Government step up and do more to support skills for working-class young people in Scotland. Instead, college places are at their lowest in over a decade and facing further cuts from the SNP this year. Meanwhile, more than 1,300 kids – the equivalent of a full high school – left school last year with no qualifications to their name at all. It is intolerable to me and to progressive politics that nearly one in six young people in Scotland are not in education, employment or training – while the SNP deny those young people opportunities and merely say immigration will alleviate all of Scotland's ills. Failing public services, a lack of investment, fewer opportunities for young people, increased net migration – all these issues combine to break down trust in the system. All across the country, people are scunnered. A government of service to working people addresses those concerns; a government of service to its party will not. I'm married to a French national, my children are bilingual and my extended family live and work all over the world, so I know that immigration enriches our communities socially, culturally and economically. But it is possible to be positive about the contribution immigration plays to our communities while, at the same time, wanting a system that is controlled, ordered and fair. Most people – including most immigrants – want a functioning system that is orderly, predictable and fair. Nobody could describe our current situation as that. The Tories broke the system, deliberately, in a callous move as a political experiment. The reality is that net migration has quadrupled in just four years, reaching unprecedented levels. This happened while employer investment in training the UK workforce fell, reducing opportunities for people here to secure work, get on and contribute. This, alongside years of austerity, strained public services, and a lack of houses and decent jobs for our young people, has bred a lack of trust in the system. That lack of trust does not come from one single issue, and politicians who claim otherwise are simply wrong about the moment we are in. Immigration is not the source of all our problems, but it is not the solution to all of them either. We need a balanced approach to maximising the benefits and minimising the costs. This Labour UK Government ended austerity with more money for public services in Scotland than ever before, and the biggest upgrade in workers' rights for a generation. Now we are setting out targeted reforms which will help attract highly skilled individuals to drive innovation in Scotland's key sectors such as renewable energy, life sciences and technology. We are also increasing the skills threshold for work visas to degree level – making sure skilled work truly means skilled work and ending the reliance on lower-skilled overseas labour that grew under the last UK Government. We are also going to support refugees who have been officially granted protection status in the UK to apply for employment through existing worker routes where they have the skills to do so. And we are enhancing the opportunities for exceptional talent to come to the UK, integrate and contribute to the economy. We will increase the number of places for research interns, including those working in AI, make it simpler for top scientific and design talent to come to the UK, and reform the Innovator Founder visa to help international graduates build businesses in the UK – supercharging growth in our key industries. Sadly, all of this is in sharp contrast with an SNP Scottish Government which is, as usual, moving fast on incendiary rhetoric but going slow on actually improving the lives of people in Scotland. I suggest it is the lack of housing, college places, the poor connectivity and infrastructure, and long NHS waiting times – all the things the SNP Scottish Government are responsible for. We want to see the Scottish Government step up and do more to support skills for working-class young people in Scotland. Instead, college places are at their lowest level in a decade and facing further cuts from the SNP this year. Meanwhile, more than 1,300 kids – the equivalent of a full high school – left school last year with no qualifications to their name at all. It is intolerable to me and to progressive politics that nearly one in six young people in Scotland are not in education, employment or training – while the SNP deny those young people those opportunities and merely say immigration will alleviate all of Scotland's ills. Failing public services, a lack of investment, fewer opportunities for young people, increased net migration – all these issues combine to break down trust in the system. All across the country, people are scunnered. A government of service to working people addresses those concerns; a government of service to its party will not. Ian Murray is the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Arab News
15-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Social benefits benefit everyone
A combination of domestic and global circumstances is being exploited, by some deliberately and by others inadvertently, and used against the welfare state. There are those who ideologically oppose the very notion of wealth distribution to create a more just society, while others, despite supporting it, are afraid that it is becoming unaffordable, especially at times when economic growth is sluggish and there are other urgent and compelling reasons to divert public money to competing public goods. Neither group is calling for the abolition of what amounts to a redistribution of wealth, but the first group would like it to be permanently limited to the very minimum, and the other only when its fiscally prudent. Both sides are missing the essence of the welfare state, which serves both the direct recipients of its benefits and those who pay for it through their taxes, for the good functioning of society as much as the moral reasons. The budgetary priorities set by the current Labour UK government, which came to power less than a year ago, are increasingly taking the affordability approach, and this is causing disquiet among its traditional supporters as well as many backbenchers in Parliament. In the past few months the government, rather shockingly, cut winter fuel payments to pensioners, as well as cutting disability benefits to the tune of £5 billion ($6.6 billion), leaving the most vulnerable in society exposed in these times of exponential rises in the cost of living. There can be a case for abolishing universal benefits, but not at the expense of those in desperate need. Come the next general election Labour will be largely held accountable by the voters if it has not managed to save the welfare state after nearly a decade and a half of its gradual and deliberately imposed decline under the Conservatives. A modern health service literally gets people back on their feet Yossi Mekelberg An earlier notion of the welfare state emerged in the 19th century, first in Bismarck's Germany, as an institutional response to negative side-effects of industrialization in order to protect individuals, workers, and their families from several risks during the course of their life. These were, most importantly, loss of income due to disease, work-related accidents, unemployment, and old age. In the UK, it was the adoption of the Beveridge Report, titled 'Social Insurance and Allied Service,' which proposed that all people of working age should pay a weekly national insurance contribution, and in return benefits would be paid to those who were sick, unemployed, retired or widowed. At the heart of the report was Beveridge's view of society and economy: He believed that vested interests should not hinder what he saw as the top priority for government, which was to abolish the 'Five Great Evils' that plagued society: want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. This led in the post-Second World War era to the establishment of the National Health Service, a major public housing program, and massive investment in public education. It was also obvious that it would not be enough to treat just some of the 'evils' and not others, but instead to address all of them concurrently, as they are in most cases interlinked. It was a departure from considering helping those in need as an act of charity. Alas, the establishment of a social security system is charitable, with strong moral and ethical underpinnings, but charity it is not, because when it is successful, it also enhances two of the most important pillars of society: prosperity and security. The classic argument against the welfare state is that it is bound to become a 'nanny state' that restricts initiative and enterprise, and anyway it is not the responsibility of the collective to cater for the needs of the individual, and certainly not to create social justice through redistribution of wealth. This argument looks at social security benefits, or universal services free at point of delivery, such as national health and education services, as a burden on a free market by imposing high taxes and therefore discourages those who work hard and contribute most to society. When the welfare state is at its best, it is inclusive of all in society Yossi Mekelberg Seeing society only through this narrow prism of a free market and low taxation is oversimplistic, and conveniently ignores, for instance, that a modern and efficient health service literally gets people back on their feet and back at work, enabling them to earn, spend, and pay taxes (and not live on benefits), which keeps the economy thriving. A first-class education system for all produces generation after generation of those who generate wealth, not to mention responsible citizens. When the welfare state is at its best, it is inclusive of everyone in society, including the less fortunate, but equally it must be seen as an investment. Those who oppose welfare are quick to blame the safety net of social security benefits for creating a culture of dependency, even a poverty trap, or say that there are those who find ways to defraud the system. Either argument points to a system that is not perfect and not free of loopholes. Nevertheless, in the UK, the estimated percentage of fraud in the social security system is around 3 percent of total benefit expenditure, and in most other OECD countries it is similar or even lower. This certainly calls for better safeguards against fraud, but it is hardly significant enough to do away with social security. Moreover, in the case of pensioners for instance, it is no more than partial repayment of what they paid into the system throughout their working lives; and furthermore, a healthy society should be proud of not leaving behind those who due to their unique circumstances need the support of the rest of us, even if it is for their entire lives. In times of slow economic growth and competing pressures on public expenditure, such as the current need to invest more in Europe on defense due to the war in Ukraine, the easiest route is that of cutting social security. However, there is a case to be made for increasing borrowing within strict rules and limits to protect the most vulnerable — otherwise by the time the economy grows again, the societal decline would exact much higher economic and social costs. After all, the welfare society is a marriage of morality and expediency, and both are united in the cause of creating a better and more prosperous society.
