‘Rambling’ PM prepared to trade away fishing rights, claims Carmichael

The “rambling” Prime Minister needs to give greater clarity on what the fishing industry can expect after Brexit, according to isles MP Alistair Carmichael.

He challenged Theresa May in Parliament but said that in her response she refused to guarantee that fishing rights would not be traded away for other sectors, only saying that it would be “part of the negotiations”.

Mr Carmichael said: “If we are to leave the Common Fisheries Policy in 2019, and if we are not then going to trade away access to UK waters for non-UK fishing vessels, then as far as fishing is concerned, what else is there left to talk about?”

Mrs May replied: “I say to the right honourable gentleman, we will be leaving the CommonFisheries Policy on 29th March 2019 and the CAP [common agricultural policy] as I indicated. The arrangements that pertain to fisheries during that implementation period will of course be part of the negotiation for that implementation period.

“Leaving the CFP and leaving the CAP gives us the opportunity, post that implementation period, to actually introduce arrangements that work for the United Kingdom, and that is what my right honourable friend the environment secretary is discussing with the fishing and agricultural industries about what those arrangements for the future should be.”

After the exchange Mr Carmichael said: “All the Prime Minister had to say was that access to UK waters would not be traded off against any other deal. She was asked a very simple question and gave a long rambling answer.

“In the 1970s the then Conservative government regarded our fishing industry as being ‘expendable.’ It looks increasingly as if very little has changed in the succeeding 40 years.”

COMMENTS(8)

Add Your Comment
  • Ali Inkster

    • December 19th, 2017 12:53

    Carmichael was and is perfectly happy for those rights to remain in the charge of the unelected eu commission so why is he pretending to want them returned to the UK?

    REPLY
  • David Spence

    • December 19th, 2017 20:48

    Mr Carmichael said: “All the Prime Minister had to say was that access to UK waters ”

    One would have to question, what exactly will be ‘ UK waters ‘ after Bre*hit, and will the Scottish and Shetland Fishing fleets be regarded as ‘ expendable ‘ after March 2019?

    I am pretty we have gone down this road before, and, ironically, it was with a Tory Government in power then.

    Some may say the EU’s CFP, was a disaster for Scottish and Shetland fishermen, but one must ask, what would Scottish and Shetland fishermen’s answer be to sustaining the industry through conservation or would it just be ‘ the quick buck mentality ‘ and to hell with the conservation of stocks?????

    How would the UK, after Bre*hit, manage to police its fishing grounds (whatever this may be, most certainly not A 200 mile limit)?? Under Bre*hit, would this cost go onto the Scottish Government, National Government, the fishing industry or even people fishing the sea’s?

    You want your fishing grounds, then pay for policing them?

    REPLY
  • James fraser

    • December 19th, 2017 21:32

    What about all the scottish fishermen that sold there entitlement to fish to spanish..french and German fishermen for access to fish our waters.. highest bidder wins!!!

    REPLY
  • Douglas Young

    • December 20th, 2017 3:17

    Shetland Times, Carmichael, Scott, Wir Shetland all rambled, all said let Westminster rule us,let London, white, rich, males tell us hopeless, backward, parochial island natives what to do, how to do it, when to do it and limit the number of pounds we can spend achieving it

    In 2014 we believed them all and voted NO

    We deserve all we get

    Hate the SNP, hate the rest of Scotland and hate our own government

    Westminster loves us

    Time to grow up bairns

    Shetland News supported independence, Shetland bairns (under 25) did too, Ally Bain did

    Stop relying on England for decisions, make your own and become independent

    Or be impotent, pathetic peerie people

    Your call

    REPLY
    • Ali Inkster

      • December 20th, 2017 21:54

      I think you will find Wir Shetland is all for Shetland autonomy outside the grasp of the EU the UK and Scotland. It is you and your snp buddies that confuse independence with being ruled by Brussels.

      REPLY
      • Brian Smith

        • December 21st, 2017 17:06

        Has Wir Shetland no disbanded, Ali?

  • John Jamieson

    • December 20th, 2017 11:35

    ‘Rambling’ PM prepared to trade away fishing rights, claims Carmichael.
    Yesterday (Tuesday) Michel Barnier said emphatically that there would be no special arrangement to allow City firms offering financial services to trade freely in the EU if Britain leaves the single market.
    The UK government have just accepted this position and announced that the UK is going to allow branches of EU companies to continue to trade in the UK wholesale market after Brexit without having to set up subsidiaries.
    This is an incredible double victory for the EU as it has removed the need for long and complex negotiations on a reciprocal agreement and competition from UK banks in the EU will end on Brexit.
    This collapse by the UK government must encourage the EU Negotiating Team to continue with this approach as it saves so much time and effort compared to negotiating with a UK government that doesn’t know what it wants for the UK after Brexit.
    It does not bode well for the UK fishing industry if the EU decides that UK companies will be excluded from from fishing in EU waters after Brexit.

    REPLY
  • David Spence

    • December 20th, 2017 13:46

    I am still unsure what the UK’s stance is on fishing and the support of the fishing industry? I certainly do not believe the British fishing industry can go back to what was before 1974, when the UK joined, as it was known then, the EEC under a Conservative Government.

    There certainly seems to be a lack of clarity on the subject of UK fishing rights, and the economic implications of such an agreement in regards to what exactly is the UK fishing limits, fishing grounds and who will benefit most from it?

    I am also concerned with regard to what deal, if any, the government is negotiating with the EU, and will this mean, again, Scottish and Shetland fishing being regarded as ‘ expendable ‘ ?

    Having a ‘ no deal ‘ agreement with the EU, which seems to be the likely outcome, I fear will be damaging to the Shetland fishing industry.

    The UK, is very much in a limbo situation in regards to many economic trade deals, and this uncertainty is echoed throughout the country, especially the fishing industry.

    May be, just may be, if Scotland was independent, our fishing industry may be on firmer ground?

    REPLY

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