Brexit betrayal as Keir Starmer provides in to ‘EU strain’ on UK fish | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer was urged to “stand up” to French President Emmanuel Macron after reviews he’s set to capitulate to the EU in a fishing row. The Prime Minister is claimed to be getting ready at hand over extra fishing rights to Brussels in return for a defence deal.

France had been demanding {that a} safety pact, which might imply UK corporations with the ability to bid for contracts below a brand new EU fund, is linked to the problem of fishing. Tory shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge stated: “To actively shut out UK defence companies from this fund is ill-judged and ill-timed.

“It may be an EU fund but its objective is European defence and security and that objective will not be served by trading it off with the interests of French fishermen.

“We have led with our support for Ukraine, to the benefit of Europe’s wider security; our troops are defending NATO’s eastern border in Estonia, and our nuclear deterrent is offered to protect European NATO nations.

“Now is the time for European unity on defence and for firing up defence production.

“We need Labour to stand up to President Macron and make clear that this is the worst possible time to prioritise fish over Europe’s collective security.”

Brexiteers reacted with fury to reviews that Sir Keir may cave to the bloc over fishing.

Former Tory Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg advised a Sunday newspaper: “The EU ought to stop carping and pay us for defence while the government must not flounder by betraying our fishermen again.”

Arch-Brexiteer Steve Baker stated: “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 settlement with the bloc as a part of his wider Brexit reset.

The present fishing preparations below the post-Brexit commerce deal are as a consequence of expire in June subsequent yr.

It comes after the EU’s international coverage chief final month advised talks over fishing mustn’t block a safety deal.

Former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas stated: “I’m actually surprised at how important the fish are, considering the security situation”.