Sir Keir Starmer is facing fury from Brexiteers over reports he is set to cave in to the EU in a fishing row. The Prime Minister will reportedly give Brussels more of the UK’s fish in return for a defence deal.
The Sun reported that the “likely direction of travel” is that Britain will do a deal on fish in return for UK defence firms getting access to EU weapons contracts. An insider told the newspaper that if the choice is between a small industry like fish and a big industry like defence the government “should pick the big industry”.
Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “The EU ought to stop carping and pay us for defence while the government must not flounder by betraying our fisherman again.”
Fellow Brexiteer Steve Baker said: “This is yet another lose lose from Labour, with the EU taking on both counts
“Our defence capacity is a substantial prize for Europe, so we wouldn’t be giving up fish for them to take it.
“Further concessions on fish are a fundamental betrayal of our departure from the EU.”
Sir Keir has been aiming to strike a defence pact with the bloc as part of his wider Brexit reset
But French President Emmanuel Macron had been demanding that it is linked to fishing rights.
The current fishing arrangements under the post-Brexit trade deal are due to expire in June next year.
It comes after the EU’s foreign policy chief last month suggested talks over fishing should not block a security deal.
Former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas said: “I’m actually surprised at how important the fish are, considering the security situation”.
Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa in February insisted the two areas “cannot be put on the same level”.
