Latest news with #ScottishFishermensFederation
Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Keir Starmer's EU deal a ‘horror show for Scottish fishermen'
A deal between the UK and EU has been branded a 'horror show' by Scottish fishermen who accused Sir Keir Starmer of selling out their industry. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) claimed that other benefits secured by Britain, in areas such as defence, exports and travel, had been achieved entirely 'on the backs' of the fishing sector and coastal communities. The new pact means existing access to UK waters for boats from EU countries, which had been due to expire next year, will instead continue for a further 12 years in what was seen as a major concession that will benefit French, Dutch and Danish fishermen. The terms of the initial Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson's government, which saw the UK regain 25
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
EU deal gives '12 years of certainty' to Scottish fishermen, says Murray
The deal between the UK and EU provides '12 years of certainty and stability' for fishermen, the Scottish Secretary has said. The agreement – announced on Monday in London – was hailed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as a 'win-win' for both the UK and the bloc, and will create a 'youth experience scheme' for young Britons to study and live in Europe, along with improving trade and allowing British travellers to use passport e-gates on the continent. But British fishermen have hit out at the deal, which allows a further 12 years of access to UK waters for boats from the EU, with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) describing it as a 'horror show'. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: 'I don't agree with that. '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. Mr 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.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
In charts: What does the new Brexit deal mean for fishing?
Critics have branded Keir Starmer's fishing deal with the EU 'a horror show' for the industry after he granted European trawler fleets 12 years of access to UK waters. The roll over of the existing fisheries deal to 2038 will benefit the British fishing industry, the prime minister has claimed, by allowing the sale of fish caught in UK waters to be sold in the EU without veterinary checks, removing a costly post-Brexit barrier. Sir Keir has also unveiled a £360m fund to support fishing communities and modernise the British fishing fleet. He told reporters on Monday: "It's time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.' But he faces another argument with the Scottish government after failing to consult them before signing his deal, which impacts Scottish fisheries. The Scottish Fishermen 's Federation (SFF) branded the UK-EU deal a "horror show" for the sector, while Scottish constitution secretary Angus Robertson blasted the UK for agreeing a fisheries deal in principle "without any recourse, involvement or approval of devolved administrations". However, government sources have briefed that UK hands were tied because the Windsor Framework Agreement struck last year by Rishi Sunak meant the UK would have to negotiate fishing rights at the same time as access to the energy market. The core elements remain unchanged from the Conservatives' post-Brexit fisheries deal, first implemented in 2020, and continues to allow EU fishermen access to UK waters. However, Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed that the fishing agreement was three times longer than the government wanted. But Richard Kilpatrick, head of campaigns at thinktank European Movement UK, said the certainty provided by the longer timeframe will benefit the industry. 'This will open a serious food deal with the EU, which is of huge benefit to all of us - including the fishing industry,' he told the Independent. 'Even if it is not quite what they wanted, [the fisheries deal] gives the industry certainty, which can guide their investment decisions - much clearer than returning to it every few years." 'Betrayal' over fisheries The EU is still Britain's top market for fish but since Brexit, the UK's seafood exports have dropped by 26 per cent to just 336,000 tonnes in 2023 compared to 454,000 in 2019. Both British and European fishermen working in UK waters are subject to quotas, meaning that they have an allocated limit of fish they can catch, called a 'catch share'. In the first post-Brexit fishing deal, agreed in 2020, the government wanted European fishermen to give up 80 per cent of their catch in British waters. In the end, however, the EU gave up just 25 per cent of its catch share. This meant that the UK's catch share increased by just under 10 per cent, according to think tank UK in a Changing Europe. Sir Keir announced that the UK has struck a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS) with the EU, a boon for British food exporters who have suffered since Brexit. The deal will 'make food and agricultural trade with the EU cheaper and easier', Sir Keir said, allowing exporters to sell 'great British burgers, shellfish, and other products' into the EU market. The SPS deal will also benefit UK consumers, by making it easier to stock EU food products and fresh produce in supermarkets. food rotting at the border and lack of fresh produce on UK shelves.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU deal gives '12 years of certainty' to Scottish fishermen, says Murray
The deal between the UK and EU provides '12 years of certainty and stability' for fishermen, the Scottish Secretary has said. The agreement – announced on Monday in London – was hailed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as a 'win-win' for both the UK and the bloc, and will create a 'youth experience scheme' for young Britons to study and live in Europe, along with improving trade and allowing British travellers to use passport e-gates on the continent. But British fishermen have hit out at the deal, which allows a further 12 years of access to UK waters for boats from the EU, with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) describing it as a 'horror show'. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: 'I don't agree with that. '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. Mr 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.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
What does the new EU deal mean for Scotland?
The new EU deal has been described in Scotland as both a "betrayal" and "breakthrough", and will affect businesses in different ways. The harshest criticism has come from the commercial sea fishing industry which has reacted angrily to a 12-year extension of the initial post-Brexit fishing agreement. But the clearing away of red tape could also benefit exports for others in the what does the new deal mean for Scotland? Fishing The previous post-Brexit deal saw the UK regain 25% of fishing rights from the EU, but it also gave European boats continued access to UK was due to expire at the end of June 2026 but the new agreement will see that extended until the summer of Macdonald, who represents more than 400 fishing boats as chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, told BBC Scotland it was a "total capitulation to the EU".By agreeing to a multi-year deal, she argues, the UK has thrown away an important bargaining chip for future negotiations. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described it as a "great betrayal" of Scotland's fishing the UK government claims the deal provides more certainty and stability going forward, and there will be no increase in the EU bureaucracy could benefit west coast creel fisherman who sell directly into Europe and benefit from measures to reduce hold-ups for goods that perish quickly. Shellfish from some UK waters, currently banned in the EU, can be exported again under the deal. In an effort to address concerns from the fishing sector, the UK government has also announced a £360m fishing and coastal growth fund to invest in new technology, equipment and support for coastal communities. Agriculture A new SPS agreement will make food and drink imports and exports between the UK and the EU easier. SPS stands for sanitary and phytosanitary, which refers to rules about animals and deal will align UK food safety and animal health standards with those of the EU, meaning most routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would reduce "red tape" for businesses and help cut lorry queues at the UK government said this could lead to lower food prices and more choice on supermarket deal also means that British farms will be able to sell sausages and burgers to the EU for the first time in five would also return Scottish seed potatoes, once an important export, to the EU market after they were banned in 2021 in the wake of Brexit. President of the National Farmers Union (NFU) in Scotland Andrew Connon told BBC Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme he was "cautiously optimistic".He said it would help the livestock sector, specifically beef and lamb producers, as well as the seed potato industry which had suffered in recent years."Since Brexit, there has been more restriction and more friction at borders with regards to exports," he said. "The likes of the seed potato industry has been massively impacted. So anything that can reduce that friction has to be welcomed."But Mr Connon also said it was important that standards were not relaxed and the border was kept safe so not to undermine British markets. Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said the deal was "very good news" for fish said the EU was the "most important market" for Scottish salmon, with France alone taking about £240m of it every Scott said the sector had faced "considerable" costs for administration to export salmon and delivery time had increased due to physical checks on added: "These measures could reduce the bureaucratic cost of the administration we currently face, at about £3m a year."It will also improve our delivery times to our customers all over Europe, which is very welcome given we're exporting a time-sensitive product directly from Scotland into the EU." Hospitality UK Hospitality has praised the deal as "positive news" for the executive Kate Nicholls said it would help to "further increase access to high-quality, affordable food and drink for business and consumers alike". She also welcomed the UK government's commitment to working on a youth mobility thought a new agreement on youth movement could increase the UK hospitality workforce after significant staff shortages in the wake of the Covid pandemic and Scottish Hospitality Group also welcomed the deal as importing products from the EU was a "big cost" for the Stephen Montgomery said the industry body would wait to read the whole document, however "what we do know is that this will not go far enough to the help already struggling hospitality businesses".He said businesses were still struggling with growing costs due to increased national insurance contributions and the "out of date" non-domestic rates policy. Defence The UK-EU deal also includes the announcement of a new security and defence prime minister said this would "pave the way for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU's proposed new £150bn Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence fund". That will be welcomed by UK defence firms such as BAE Systems and Babcock which have a significant presence in Scotland, particularly in naval UK government also said the deal would benefit British steel as it would be protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs through a bespoke agreement. Travel Scottish holidaymakers will soon be able to use more eGates in Europe, which the government says "will end the dreaded queues" at border Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have mostly had to queue for manned desks to get their passports stamped, instead of using the automated part of the deal, "pet passports" will also be introduced for cats and dogs, so there will no longer be a need for animal health certificates on every UK and EU have also agreed to work together on a "youth experience scheme".This could mean young people, aged 18-30, might be able to travel and work freely within the European Union the government said the youth scheme would be "capped and time-limited" and would be similar to ones the UK already has with countries like Australia and New UK has also agreed to work towards re-joining the Erasmus+ scheme, which would make it easier and more affordable for students to study abroad in the EU.
