Government Minister’s stand accused of breaking their promises during and after the EU Referendum that Britain would leave the Common Fisheries Policy and regain control of UK waters at the earliest opportunity. Instead it has been revealed that control over quotas and stocks will remain with the EU long after any Brexit date but instead of being inside the decision making process, the UK will be outside yet still subject to EU rules.

Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell said fishermen across the country will feel let down and angry by the Brexiteers broken promises of taking back absolute control of our fisheries on day one of leaving the EU.

Alan Campbell MP said “The Government has said that in leaving the Common Fisheries Policy the UK will regain control of our fisheries on day one. Now we learn that that has been put on ice but although we will not take part any new rules or quotas our fishermen will still be subject to them. Furthermore there is no guarantee that at the end of a transition period our fishing rights will not be traded away for some other political or economic priority.”

“UK fishermen were betrayed by a Conservative Government on Brentry and they look like being betrayed by a Conservative Government on Brexit.”

Alan Campbell MP also pressed Ministers in the Commons on the future for the prawn industry. North Shields is England’s biggest prawn port with 95% of catch being exported to the continent. Alan Campbell asked the Environment Secretary for assurances on the ports future saying that given we export such a large proportion of our prawns to Europe should we not have the freest trade with Europe?

Alan Campbell said “It’s one thing to catch the fish in our own waters but our fishermen must also have access to markets to sell them.”