Boris Johnson – Boris Johnson: UK fishing trade ought to put together for ‘El Dorado’ regardless of post-Brexit crimson tape difficulties
BORIS Johnson has claimed British fishermen ought to put together for an “El Dorado” regardless of lots of them at the moment experiencing extreme difficulties with crimson tape post-Brexit and a fall-off in demand due to the coronavirus.
Throughout PMQs, he was challenged by Labour’s Ben Bradshaw about elevated forms following Britain’s departure from the EU because the Exeter MP requested: “When the Prime Minister told fishermen in the South-West that they would not face new export barriers or unnecessary form-filling, and when he told Britain’s musicians and artists they would still be free to tour and work in the rest of the European Union after Brexit, neither of those statements were correct, were they Prime Minister?”
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The PM, who has referred to the issues the seafood trade has encountered with elevated forms, replied: “It is absolutely true that some British fishermen have faced barriers at the present time owing to complications over form-filling and indeed one of the biggest problems is that, alas, there is a decline in appetite for fish in continental markets just because most of the restaurants, as he knows, are shut.”
He went on: “The truth is that Brexit will ship and is delivering an enormous uplift in quota, already the subsequent 5 years, and by 2026 the fishing individuals of this nation could have entry to all of the fish in all of the territorial waters of this nation.
“To get them ready for that El Dorado, we’re investing £100 million in improving our boats, our fish processing industry and getting fishing ready for the opportunities ahead.”
However SDLP MP Claire Hanna urged Mr Johnson to “be straight with the people of Northern Ireland” over Brexit.
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The Belfast South MP stated: “Opposite to the view of each political celebration right here and all of these concerned in logistics and retail, [Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis] stated final week that there’s no border within the Irish Sea and that disruption to provides was a Covid difficulty and nothing to do with Brexit or the Protocol.
“The papers are reporting [the PM] plans to woo [US President Joe Biden’s] administration by means of the subject of Northern Eire.
“As they and we attempt to transfer on from Trump and Trump-ism, would being straight with the individuals of Northern Eire not be a superb begin?”
Mr Johnson responded by suggesting the proof of the pudding was within the consuming, telling MPs: “Actually, there’s more transit now taking place between Larne and Stranraer and Cairnryan than there is between Holyhead and Dublin because it’s going so smoothly.”
Later, Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, hit out on the PM’s El Dorado comment, saying: “Fishermen may replicate on the truth that ‘El Dorado’ was a delusion that led to many wasted lives trying to find treasure that by no means existed. A becoming metaphor, then, for this Prime Minister to make use of.
“This concept of all of it being straightforward once we get to 2026 was already referred to as out by a minimum of the Chief Govt of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation; he ought to cease repeating the error.
“Significant enhancements for the trade in 2026 would require a political will that Boris Johnson has by no means, ever proven on behalf of fishing when it actually mattered. Future guarantees of legendary wealth are worth nothing when the damaged guarantees of the current are costing fishermen proper now,” insisted the previous Scottish Secretary.
