ANALYSIS

       Brexiteers dreamed of a Britain which once again had a thriving fishing industry (Image: Getty)

       Sir Keir Starmer has given Brexiteers reason to rush back onto the political battlefield. Thanks to the Prime Minister, the veterans of the 2016 campaign have a cause to unite around.

       The anger surrounding Sir Keir’s Brexit deal is not synthetic. Granting EU boats continued access to British waters until 2038 is a massive blow for everyone who dreamed that leaving the bloc would lead to a fishing renaissance in UK.

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       COMMENT: Labour and Keir Starmer 'preparing to bend the knee to Brussels' over fishing

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       COMMENT: Labour and Keir Starmer 'preparing to bend the knee to Brussels' over fishing

       Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer 'surrender' to EU in major Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       Nigel Farage issues damning verdict on Keir Starmer's EU 'surrender deal'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer thinks he's struck great deal - he's actually sealed Labour's fate

       Comments

       UK 'frogmarched' into miserable EU rules as Keir Starmer 'sells-out' Brexit voters

       Comments

       Keir Starmer plotting to ‘sell out' fishermen as Brexit betrayal to ‘kill British ports'

       Comments

       Priti Patel skewers Keir Starmer over 'utter rubbish' EU reset deal exposing major problem

       Comments

       Minister gives key migration update as fury rises over Labour's Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       POLL: Is Keir Starmer betraying Brexit and trying to get too close to EU?

       Comments

       Keir Starmer 'stitched up like a kipper' by EU in Brexit surrender deal

       Comments

       Brexit betrayal fears with UK fishermen dreading the worst as key deadline looms

       Comments

       GB News halted for Keir Starmer 'breaking news' as PM humiliated by 'big EU deal problem'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer's EU sellout perfectly skewered in seven-word slapdown of PM

       Comments

       'Sell-out!' Keir Starmer warned against 'capitulating' to EU in Brexit fishing talks

       Comments

       Tories make huge Brexit pledge as Labour slammed over EU in Commons

       Comments

       ‘Massive sell out!' Keir Starmer condemned over latest EU migration scheme concession

       Comments

       Labour's Brexit betrayal is a kick in the teeth for working people

       Comments

       Migration madness as Keir Starmer plots stealth 'free movement' deal

       Comments

       Keir Starmer is a mediocre middle manager - his only vision for Britain is decline

       Comments

       Keir Starmer sparks confusion after dodging question on fighting next election

       Comments

       COMMENT: Labour and Keir Starmer 'preparing to bend the knee to Brussels' over fishing

       Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer 'surrender' to EU in major Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       Nigel Farage issues damning verdict on Keir Starmer's EU 'surrender deal'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer thinks he's struck great deal - he's actually sealed Labour's fate

       Comments

       UK 'frogmarched' into miserable EU rules as Keir Starmer 'sells-out' Brexit voters

       Comments

       Keir Starmer plotting to ‘sell out' fishermen as Brexit betrayal to ‘kill British ports'

       Comments

       Priti Patel skewers Keir Starmer over 'utter rubbish' EU reset deal exposing major problem

       Comments

       Minister gives key migration update as fury rises over Labour's Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       POLL: Is Keir Starmer betraying Brexit and trying to get too close to EU?

       Comments

       Keir Starmer 'stitched up like a kipper' by EU in Brexit surrender deal

       Comments

       Brexit betrayal fears with UK fishermen dreading the worst as key deadline looms

       Comments

       GB News halted for Keir Starmer 'breaking news' as PM humiliated by 'big EU deal problem'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer's EU sellout perfectly skewered in seven-word slapdown of PM

       Comments

       'Sell-out!' Keir Starmer warned against 'capitulating' to EU in Brexit fishing talks

       Comments

       Tories make huge Brexit pledge as Labour slammed over EU in Commons

       Comments

       ‘Massive sell out!' Keir Starmer condemned over latest EU migration scheme concession

       Comments

       Labour's Brexit betrayal is a kick in the teeth for working people

       Comments

       Migration madness as Keir Starmer plots stealth 'free movement' deal

       Comments

       Keir Starmer is a mediocre middle manager - his only vision for Britain is decline

       Comments

       Keir Starmer sparks confusion after dodging question on fighting next election

       Comments

       Sir Keir stands accused of failing to get a grip on illegal immigration while selling out a proud British industry. More so than ever before, Brexiteers will see this Labour Government as a threat to so much of what the historic 2016 referendum result was meant to deliver.

       The total number of “fishers” in the UK crashed from just over 21,000 in 1970 to 10,356 in 2022. At a time when the war in Ukraine has made Britons wake up to the importance of food security, it is imperative the country does not lose its fishing fleet.

       The PM will have expected angry attacks from the Conservatives and Reform UK, but there is palpable sadness in the statements from an industry which is deeply worried about the future.

       Further rounds of negotiations with the EU await (Image: Getty)

       A deal 'on the backs of our fishermen'

       His deal, according to the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, “surrenders the best prospect that the fishing industry and coastal communities had for growth”.

       Elspeth Macdonald of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation branded the settlement “absolutely disastrous” and said it was clear Sir Keir had “made the whole deal on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities”.

       In fishing communities and far beyond, there will be similar dismay at a lost opportunity.

       The announcement of a ￡360m “fishing and coastal growth fund” will not take the edge off the disappointment. The fact that part of this investment is intended to “boost tourism” simply adds to the sense that harbours which were once filled with fishing boats are now places people go for an ice cream.

       By locking the UK into this deal until 2038, Sir Keir has bequeathed his successors a grim dilemma. If they rip it up Britain risks punitive tariffs.

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       Sir Keir has awoken Britain’s Brexiteers

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       Boris Johnson after casting his vote in the 2016 referendum (Image: Getty)

       The apparent victory for France on fishing comes alongside the UK agreeing to be a rule-taker to escape checks for food exports.

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       Priti Patel skewers Keir Starmer over 'utter rubbish' EU reset deal exposing major problem

       Comments

       Minister gives key migration update as fury rises over Labour's Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       POLL: Is Keir Starmer betraying Brexit and trying to get too close to EU?

       Comments

       Keir Starmer 'stitched up like a kipper' by EU in Brexit surrender deal

       Comments

       Brexit betrayal fears with UK fishermen dreading the worst as key deadline looms

       Comments

       GB News halted for Keir Starmer 'breaking news' as PM humiliated by 'big EU deal problem'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer's EU sellout perfectly skewered in seven-word slapdown of PM

       Comments

       'Sell-out!' Keir Starmer warned against 'capitulating' to EU in Brexit fishing talks

       Comments

       Tories make huge Brexit pledge as Labour slammed over EU in Commons

       Comments

       ‘Massive sell out!' Keir Starmer condemned over latest EU migration scheme concession

       Comments

       Labour's Brexit betrayal is a kick in the teeth for working people

       Comments

       Migration madness as Keir Starmer plots stealth 'free movement' deal

       Comments

       Keir Starmer is a mediocre middle manager - his only vision for Britain is decline

       Comments

       Keir Starmer sparks confusion after dodging question on fighting next election

       Comments

       COMMENT: Labour and Keir Starmer 'preparing to bend the knee to Brussels' over fishing

       Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer 'surrender' to EU in major Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       Nigel Farage issues damning verdict on Keir Starmer's EU 'surrender deal'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer thinks he's struck great deal - he's actually sealed Labour's fate

       Comments

       UK 'frogmarched' into miserable EU rules as Keir Starmer 'sells-out' Brexit voters

       Comments

       Keir Starmer plotting to ‘sell out' fishermen as Brexit betrayal to ‘kill British ports'

       Comments

       Priti Patel skewers Keir Starmer over 'utter rubbish' EU reset deal exposing major problem

       Comments

       Minister gives key migration update as fury rises over Labour's Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       POLL: Is Keir Starmer betraying Brexit and trying to get too close to EU?

       Comments

       Keir Starmer 'stitched up like a kipper' by EU in Brexit surrender deal

       Comments

       Brexit betrayal fears with UK fishermen dreading the worst as key deadline looms

       Comments

       GB News halted for Keir Starmer 'breaking news' as PM humiliated by 'big EU deal problem'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer's EU sellout perfectly skewered in seven-word slapdown of PM

       Comments

       'Sell-out!' Keir Starmer warned against 'capitulating' to EU in Brexit fishing talks

       Comments

       Tories make huge Brexit pledge as Labour slammed over EU in Commons

       Comments

       ‘Massive sell out!' Keir Starmer condemned over latest EU migration scheme concession

       Comments

       Labour's Brexit betrayal is a kick in the teeth for working people

       Comments

       Migration madness as Keir Starmer plots stealth 'free movement' deal

       Comments

       Keir Starmer is a mediocre middle manager - his only vision for Britain is decline

       Comments

       Keir Starmer sparks confusion after dodging question on fighting next election

       Comments

       COMMENT: Labour and Keir Starmer 'preparing to bend the knee to Brussels' over fishing

       Comments

       Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer 'surrender' to EU in major Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       Nigel Farage issues damning verdict on Keir Starmer's EU 'surrender deal'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer thinks he's struck great deal - he's actually sealed Labour's fate

       Comments

       UK 'frogmarched' into miserable EU rules as Keir Starmer 'sells-out' Brexit voters

       Comments

       Keir Starmer plotting to ‘sell out' fishermen as Brexit betrayal to ‘kill British ports'

       Comments

       Priti Patel skewers Keir Starmer over 'utter rubbish' EU reset deal exposing major problem

       Comments

       Minister gives key migration update as fury rises over Labour's Brexit betrayal

       Comments

       POLL: Is Keir Starmer betraying Brexit and trying to get too close to EU?

       Comments

       Keir Starmer 'stitched up like a kipper' by EU in Brexit surrender deal

       Comments

       Brexit betrayal fears with UK fishermen dreading the worst as key deadline looms

       Comments

       GB News halted for Keir Starmer 'breaking news' as PM humiliated by 'big EU deal problem'

       Comments

       Keir Starmer's EU sellout perfectly skewered in seven-word slapdown of PM

       Comments

       Ending the oversight of the European Court of Justice was a priority for the men and women who persuaded the country to vote Leave. Veterans of the campaign will fear sovereignty is once again under threat.

       YouGov polling showing 53% now favour Britain rejoining the European Union will only intensify the sense of urgency in Brexiteer circles that the country is being dragged back into Brussels’ orbit; that the nation’s confidence to go it alone has been ground down; that reclaimed sovereignty could be diminished quickly.

       Sir Keir has awoken Britain’s Brexiteers. How this changes the fortunes for Reform UK or the Conservatives remains to be seen – but from Plymouth to Fraserburgh, the consequences could be profound.

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