The SNP has urged Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to give clarity on the future of fishing post-Brexit.
The Tory MSP visited Peterhead this week to meet with the fishing sector – but did not give assurances her party won’t sacrifice the industry in negotiations.
Now, north-east SNP candidates have highlighted a series of statements they claim leave no doubt as to the party’s intentions after Brexit.
Banff and Buchan candidate, Eilidh Whiteford and Gordon candidate Alex Salmond have set out six questions they argue need answers, including how the issue of many foreign vessels will be allowed to fish in Scottish waters.
Mrs Whiteford said: “The SNP is the only party that will always stand up for Scotland’s fishing industry – unlike the Tories, who infamously and shamefully described our fishing fleets as ‘expendable’.
“The Tories have already made it clear fishing will not be a high priority in the negotiations, with senior figures from Theresa May down pledging a good deal for EU fishing fleets.
“This can only mean one thing. The Tories are preparing to use Scotland’s fishing industry as a Brexit bargaining chip – and any warm words for the industry are sheer hypocrisy.”
She warned that leading Tories are on record threatening to sell the fishing industry down the river three times and insisted three further points must be clarified.
Mrs Whiteford added: “I have always been consistent in my view of the CFP whereas the Tories have admitted they are simply going to incorporate the CFP into UK law.
“The fishing industry is going to be a bargaining chip for the UK Government in negotiations with the Spanish and others.
“Private assurances will no longer work. The Tories must now answer these key questions, or they simply will be seen for the frank hypocrisy of their position.
“A vote for the SNP will send a warning to the Tories that they will not get away with selling out Scotland’s fishing communities for a second time.”
But Scottish Conservative spokesman said the SNP was out of touch.
He said: “Never mind six questions, there is only one question that matters for Scottish fishermen, and that is how they secure the best possible Brexit deal.
“Alex Salmond and Eilidh Whiteford should spend some more time taking to skippers and industry leaders, who are desperate to get out of the EU and, above all, the disastrous Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
“SNP attempts at scaremongering in the press have backfired and the fishermen are not falling for the spin.
“They know the Nationalists would simply drag them back into the EU and the CFP, which the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has said cannot be reformed from within.”
The questions
- Do you agree with David Mundell that “there is no way we would go back to Scotland or Britain controlling British waters” after Brexit?
- In negotiations on our exit from the EU how many vessels from other countries will the UK government allow to fish in Scottish waters after Brexit?
- Do you agree with the UK government’s white paper on Brexit that it is in the UK’s interests to reach a deal that works for the EU’s fishing communities.
- Do you agree with Theresa May that Spanish fishermen should not be left poorer due to Brexit?
- Will you apologise for the Tories saying that Scotland’s fishing industry “must be regarded as expendable”?
- What policy framework will replace the Common Fisheries Policy after Brexit?