Furious fishermen have branded Sir Keir Starmer's 'raw deal' to hand EU trawlers access British waters for 12 years an ‘absolute disaster’.
They said the 12-year agreement allowing European fleets to fish in British waters – following a five-year deal agreed post-Brexit in 2020 - means ‘nothing has really happened’ to benefit British trawlers despite high hopes after Brexit.
And the head of Britain’s biggest fishing body told how its members have been left ‘deeply disappointed’ by what ‘looks like’ a giveaway of rights with nothing in return.
The Prime Minister has denied he was ‘stitched up like a kipper by the EU’ and insisted the deal would be ‘good for fishing’.
Speaking at a press conference in London, Sir Keir said the deal would provide 'stability' and help the fishing industry sell more to Europe, which accounts for 70 per cent of fish landed. He denied it would lead to more fish being caught by EU trawlers.
