Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under fire after reports came out suggesting he may allow the European Union to have greater access to the UK’s fishing waters.
In exchange, British defence companies would be allowed to take part in bidding for EU weapons contracts. This possible deal has upset many people, especially those in the fishing industry, who feel they are being pushed aside for bigger interests.
According to reports, this is the direction the government is heading in. It seems like the UK is considering giving up some control over its waters to gain something more valuable for the defence sector.
One government insider said that when choosing between a small industry like fishing and a large one like defence, the government should go with the bigger one. This statement shows that the fishing industry might be sacrificed to secure business and cooperation in the defence industry.
Kevin Schofield, Political Editor at HuffPost UK, shared his views in an interview with GB News. He said it looks like Keir Starmer is accepting this proposal and in doing so, is letting down UK fishermen. Schofield believes Starmer has already made his decision and has clearly picked the defence industry over the fishing industry.
Schofield explained that this issue has been around for a while. Talks between the UK and EU about a defence agreement have been ongoing for weeks. However, these discussions have been delayed because of pressure from France. The French reportedly want fishing to be part of the deal, which has complicated the negotiations.
He questioned why something like fishing quotas is being mixed into serious defence talks. He said that defending Europe from possible threats like Russia should be a top priority and not be held back by arguments over fishing. In his opinion, the two issues—fishing rights and defence cooperation—should be treated separately. Mixing them together just makes the whole process more difficult and confusing.
Schofield also brought up how, during the 2019 general election, many fishermen—especially in areas like northeast Scotland—were promised better control over UK waters if they voted Conservative.
At that time, politicians said Brexit would mean “taking back control” and protecting the UK’s fishing rights. Many fishermen trusted that promise and changed their vote. Now, with this new deal being discussed, those same fishermen may feel abandoned or misled.
He pointed out that the French have managed to insert fishing into a much larger and more important conversation about European security and defence.
By doing this, they’ve made it harder for the UK to avoid giving in. Schofield believes that Keir Starmer is now in a tough spot, stuck between trying to protect national interests and giving in to pressure from the EU, particularly France. In his words, the EU has “got Starmer over a barrel,” meaning they have the upper hand and are using it to get what they want.
Overall, the situation has sparked debate over what matters more supporting local industries like fishing or focusing on international partnerships and defence. Many people feel frustrated that something as vital as defence is being delayed because of disputes over fish, and they worry about what it means for UK sovereignty and trust in future political promises.
