A flurry of electioneering claims and counter claims surround the notable quote from Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom in a letter to the SFF. She said “no decision has yet been made” on the extent to which the CFP would be incorporated into British law. But she pledged to “disapply the key elements” which are “most unpopular”. An interesting idea, will taxes be next? The most interesting insight into Brexit comes from a retired Peterhead fisherman who has suggested the industry needs to ‘wake up’. Four articles:

1.  The National ‘Scottish fishermen must ‘wake up’ to Brexit A former North-East skipper has warned the Scottish fishing industry must “wake up” to what the Brexit fall-out means for the sector.John Buchan, who lives in Peterhead, decided to speak out amid growing uncertainty as to what impact leaving the European Union could have on the community. Fishermen have long refuted being part of the 1970s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Buchan was a seventh generation skipper until he retired five years ago. He said: “Having seen huge changes over a lifetime working in the fishing industry, I feel pretty well qualified to talk about the last 40 years, and what the future might hold.’

2. BBC News Brexit and Fishing – Disapplying the most unpopular elements

SNP accused of twisting Andrea Leadsom’s fishing industry remarks. The UK government has assured fishermen that it will remove the most unpopular parts of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) after Brexit. Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said “no decision has yet been made” on the extent to which the CFP would be incorporated into British law. But she pledged to “disapply the key elements” which are “most unpopular”. The CFP has been extremely unpopular among Scottish fishermen, who are said to have overwhelmingly backed Brexit.

Anger has generally been focused on quotas for fishing catches and on other European fleets being given equal access to fishing grounds in Scottish waters. In a letter to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), Ms Leadsom wrote: “It is essential that we take the opportunity to develop a fisheries regime that is better-suited to our seas and industries.” She added that as the UK leaves the EU “we will look to disapply the key elements of the CFP that are most unpopular and unworkable for the UK as a coastal state”. This would include the EU quota-setting regime and the right of European boats to fish in UK waters.

3. Guardian Nicola Sturgeon’s party criticised by Tories and industry leaders over leaked excerpts of letter about integrating EU fisheries law. A battle has broken out over the future of Britain’s fishing industry after the Scottish National party was accused of twisting the words of the environment secretary, Andrea Leadsom. The Conservatives and industry leaders said the SNP had selectively leaked excerpts from a letter from Leadsom to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation that disclosed that the UK government knew it may have to integrate some parts of EU law on fisheries after Brexit.  In a mark of an increasingly bitter general election campaign in north-east Scotland, the extracts were leaked to the pro-independence National newspaper as Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Tories, campaigned in Peterhead, the UK’s largest fishing port. Davidson accused Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, of orchestrating “a grubby spin operation” after the SNP leader tweeted the National story and claimed it proved the Tories had been caught out. Click here to read more.

4. The Scottish Fishermen’s association are asking all candidates in the election to sign a pledge resting back control of UK waters.

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