I asked a fisherman of 24 years’ standing to describe how he felt nearly five years ago, when news of the ‘Boris Betrayal’ filtered through.
“It’s like we were ‘over-quota’. We were tossed overboard,” he said.
Then how, I asked him, would you handle the fisheries negotiations with the EU this time, with the current deal running out?
“I’d tell Starmer he needs to drag Brussels to London, not go there. And he’s got to give ‘em the Trump treatment – demand everything.”
It takes a lot to stir fishermen but when you do they give it to you straight, somewhat akin to the American President’s style.
They’re used to battling the elements, sometimes at great personal risk, to bring us some of the most nutritious food we can eat.
Now, though, they’re rising up with a new-found determination to put fishing right back up there in the public consciousness, as an iconic part of Britishness and ready to stand up to the EU.
The fisherman I was talking to is now a Member of the UK Fisheries Campaign (UKFC), our fishermen’s new campaigning vessel launched last week.
I understood why he referenced President Trump.
There in Washington is a 78 year-old man who – whatever else you may say about him – takes on seemingly impossible challenges such as browbeating EU leaders over their defence spending and demands an outcome so extreme it is often ridiculed.
In the case of Defence, Trump demanded a military spend of 5% of GDP from European countries who were barely spending 1.5%, such as Germany. He knew he wouldn’t get 5%, but he got what he wanted.
Most EU countries (including Germany) say they are now on a path to 3-3.5%.
More than double the level they have been stuck at for decades.
Last week saw the launch of the UK Fisheries Campaign (UKFC) which has a similar, bold approach to that of the US President.
The EU’s fishermen have had nearly nine years to get used to the fact we voted to leave their organisation.
The UK has been more than generous in allowing them continued access to our ‘sovereign’ waters. It is long past time they are told we’re taking our waters back.
There will doubtless be an explosive fit of pique from the Elysee Palace, and eurocrats will huff and they’ll puff, but do you know what? The centre of gravity will have shifted. We may not end up with absolutely everything we want, but we’ll end up with far more than if Sir Keir goes to their home turf with his begging bowl in hand. Yes, quite right, Skipper, make ‘em come to London!
Possibly no other sector of the UK economy was hit as badly as our fishing industry when the UK left the EU.
Despite all Government promises, the UK’s fishermen were effectively thrown overboard in the capitulation to the EU’s demands for ‘business as usual’ in UK waters after Brexit.
Today the UKFC invites all fishermen and all Express readers (and the many who are both!) to become a UK Fisheries Campaign Supporter, and especially to become a UKFC Member.
We aim to drown Whitehall and its regional marine offices in our enthusiasm to see a rebuilding UK fishing fleet, hand-in-glove with the revitalisation of our coastal communities across this great country.
Finally, as someone might have said, let’s “Fish, Baby! Fish!”
