'You want to sell fishermen down the river' Tory MP savages SNP over post-Brexit powers
TORY MP Ross Thompson shredded the SNP for attempting to "sell down the river" the rights of British fishermen with their campaign to keep Scotland within the European single market.
Ross Thompson BLASTS SNP's Brexit fishing policies
The Aberdeen South MP exploded against the SNP after being questioned about his support for returning control over fishing to Britain after Brexit.
Mr Ross hailed the opportunities Brexit will offer to British fishing as he unleashed a scathing attack on the SNP.
He said: "As is so clear, we are leaving the European Union, taking back control of our waters for over 200 nautical miles, giving us the opportunity to rejuvenate our coastal communities.
"We are supporting Scottish fishermen. The party that wants to sell them down the river back to Brussels, handing all those powers right back and keeping them trapped within the confines of the Common Fisheries Policy is every single member of the SNP.
Brexit news: Ross Thompson exploded against the SNP's Brexit fishing plans
"I’ll take no lectures from the benches opposite on the benefits of Brexit for fishermen."
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is aimed at ensuring that the European fish supplies are equally accessible to all member states and that fishing remains sustainable.
The policy has faced serious criticism from British and Scottish fishermen, with the Scottish Government calling it "the European Union's most unpopular and discredited policy".
In September 2017 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon admitted Edinburgh would hand back control of fisheries to Brussels in exchange for full European Union membership.
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I’ll take no lectures from the benches opposite on the benefits of Brexit for fishermen
Ms Sturgeon, who favoured Remain in the EU referendum added Scotland would remain a part of the Common Fisheries Policy under her leadership.
Her stance has upset those in the rural
One of the backbone industries north of the border, fishermen have long been at loggerheads with the EU over the CFP.
It is viewed by fishermen as choking the industry, as well as benefiting EU fisherman over Scottish ones.