Boris Johnson has come under fire for “betraying and stabbing UK fishermen in the back,” as the industry erupts over the dreaded Brexit deal with the European Union.
Before signing a trade deal with the European Union in December 2020, the former Prime Minister promised the fishing industry that the UK would “regain control” of its waters.
The two sides’ fishing agreement stated that there would be a five-year transition period during which EU boats would have some access to UK waters until 2026.
When the agreement was signed, Mr Johnson admitted that some concessions had been made in talks with the EU, but insisted that the UK would have “full control” of its waters for the first time since 1973.
June Mummery, the former East of England MEP and founder of the Renaissance of East Anglian Fisheries, has slammed that pledge, launching a scathing attack on the former Prime Minister and the Conservative Party government.
“UK fishermen have been betrayed and stabbed in the back.”
“This is a double whammy – fishermen feel stabbed in the back but coastal communities also feel stabbed in the back because they have waited over 40 years to take back that fish as resource.
“At the eleventh hour, Boris has given the EU our fishing waters. He cannot deny or get out of that.”
Ms Mummery claimed many UK fishermen are now “skint and on the bones of their backsides” following the Brexit deal that have been left with.
The former MEP accused Mr Johnson of “stealing the opportunities and aspirations” of some of the UK;s biggest fishing towns, adding: “He lied to us all.”
She continued: “UK fishermen now find themselves skint and on the bones of their backsides.
Boris gave Emmanuel Macron 70 more fishing licences last year, free of charge. A fishing licence for a young lad leaving school is around £100,000.
“You have fishing towns like Grimsby, Hull, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Hartlepool, but Boris has literally stolen all of their opportunities and aspirations. He lied to us all.
When asked what her message to the UK Government would be, Ms Mummery lashed out: “They have betrayed coastal towns, villages and communities.
“You stabbed fishermen in the back and what the hell are you going to do about it? The industry is just about finished.”
Shortly after the trade deal with the EU was signed at the end of 2020, then-Prime Minister Mr Johnson admitted that concessions were made to Brussels but insisted that the UK would have “full control” of its waters for the first time since 1973.