A Brexit row has erupted after a furious British fisherman warned the industry faces “the final nail in the coffin” following reports Sir Keir Starmer plans to offer Brussels a larger portion of UK waters.
The ongoing discussions revolve around a deal that would see British defence firms get access to EU weapons contracts, The Sun reports. The outlet said this was the “likely direction of travel”, with an insider hinting that the government “should pick the big industry” when deciding between fishing and defence. Suffolk fisherman Paul Lines has expressed his anger in a fiery rant on GB News. The veteran fisherman of 54 years labelled it a “Brexit betrayal” and claimed those in the sector “feel forgotten.” He said: “All fishermen ever get is betrayal after betrayal after betrayal.
Sir Keir Starmer reportedly wants to give Brussels a larger portion of UK waters. (Image: Getty)
“There’s no other country in the world as an independent coastal state that would ever dream of giving up the gold and fortune the sea can bring to coastal communities. We were so looking forward to Brexit happening. But it never truly happened.
“We were so hopeful when they talked about the Trade and Cooperation Agreement that we’d get our waters back, we’d get the fish back, and we could even license foreign boats to fish in our waters in a way that helped rebuild our local fleets.
“But now, he wants to play war games, trading off a little bit of fish to stop playing war games in Europe and Ukraine. Well, who does he think he’s sending out there for us?
“Because from what I see around me, we’ve already got an army coming across the Channel that he didn’t stop. Who’s pulling the triggers on those guns? Because the whole thing it’s a joke. Everything we’re getting now is a joke.
“Fishermen are just pushed into the long grass and forgotten until there’s a war, and suddenly they want minesweepers. It’s an absolute carve-up. How much more can they take? They’ve already got it all.
“Or do they want us gone completely?. The nail is right in the coffin. The British fishing industry is dead and forgotten. Then what? They’ll trade off the farmers next.
“You’ll have Frenchmen digging up spuds in British fields. It’s absolutely pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. I’ve got no trust left. And I’ll never trust a politician again.”
Currently, the current Trade and Cooperation Agreement allows EU fishing fleets access to UK waters, but the quotas are due to expire in 2026.
However, reports have emerged that the bloc wants to extend the agreement by a number of years.
