A Forfar-based MEP has waded into the independence row by stating it’s ”time to get off the British sinking ship”.
Ian Hudghton said Scotland’s fishing fleet would continue to get a raw deal in Brussels because of the UK Government’s ”general low prioritisation of fisheries”.
Mr Hudghton said people are ”tired of Westminster misrepresentation of Scotland’s interests”, highlighting the Common Fisheries Policy negotiations.
He said: ”The decisions taken each year have a direct impact on the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers around Europe and all too often for Scotland that impact is wholly negative.
”Scotland accounts for three-quarters of the UK’s fish landings and fisheries is therefore quite simply a low priority for the junior agriculture minister from England who leads for the UK at the talks.”
He added: ”When the UK was negotiating entry to the common market 40 years ago Ted Heath’s government famously stated that the fishing industry was ‘expendable’ and nothing has happened since to suggest that that attitude has changed.”
Mr Hudghton said a ”whole new and sinister element” has been thrown into the equation because of the UK Government’s ”new ultra-low standing within the EU”.
He said: ”Alex Salmond wrote to the Prime Minister asking what risk assessment he had made ahead of exercising the veto and why he had not consulted the devolved administrations.
”I suspect the answer is fairly self-evident and no risk assessment was made no regard was had for Scotland’s coastal communities.”
He added: ”He refused to enter into any discussion about any changes to existing EU treaties. To decline to take part in discussion is totally counter-productive.”
Mr Hudghton said: ”Surely it would be far better to be in the room, speaking up for key national interests and building alliances in favour of sensible and acceptable measures to aid economic recovery across the EU?
”Ted Heath said that fishing was expendable David Cameron seems to regard our whole relationship with our European neighbours as similarly expendable. It’s time Scotland got off this sinking British ship and joined the flotilla in the European mainstream.”
Mr Hudghton said a recent Ipsos MORI poll indicated high support for independence, showing that ”our people are becoming increasingly tired of Westminster misrepresentation of Scotland’s interests.”
He said the SNP Government is championing Scottish interests at home and abroad, in ”stark contrast” to Westminster.
The chief executive of the Scottish Fisheries Federation suggested going it alone might not be in Scotland’s best interests.
Bertie Armstrong told The Courier Scotland could end up with the same voting power as Estonia at Europe’s top table if it breaks away from the union. He said Scotland would have a much stronger voice if it stays part of the UK.
Stressing that his federation was apolitical, Mr Armstrong said: ”Within the EU the UK has somewhere approaching 30 votes. You have a voting strength in accordance with your national population. This is an observation of fact not a political argument.”
He added: ”The UK has approaching 30 but a separate Scotland would have a similar amount of votes to Estonia. When you get down to the brass tacks of it how would this actually work?”
Mr Armstrong said: ”You’ll also hear the argument that Scotland should have the front seat in the EU ministerial meetings about fishing because Scotland has the bulk of the fishing industry.
”Our comment is again an observation but we are very much less concerned about who sits in the seats. We are absolutely concerned in every detail about what is said and what is on the speaking note for the minister or his representative to speak on matters of fisheries.”
Photo by Maurice McDonald/PA Archive