Carmichael secures confirmation of “no linkage” between defence and fisheries negotiations with EU

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today secured confirmation that there will be “no linkage” between negotiations with the EU on security and defence and those around future access to fisheries. Speaking during Cabinet Office questions in the House of Commons, Mr Carmichael sought and received confirmation from the minister responsible for negotiations with the EU, Nick Thomas-Symonds, that there was no such link.

Mr Carmichael challenged the minister following media reports earlier this week that the UK government had made major concessions on EU access to UK fishing waters, reportedly granting a multi-year deal for European fishermen and freezing quotas, rather than reducing the bloc’s access further.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“Press reports earlier this week indicated that negotiations with the EU around security and defence were to be linked to the review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in particular in relation to access to fisheries. 

“Can I invite the Paymaster General to confirm to the House that these reports are not true and that there will be no linkage between these two very important negotiations?”

Responding, the Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds MP said:

“There is no such link and he will know that the current arrangements come to an end in 2026. We will be negotiating in the interest of our fishers and indeed looking to our responsibilities to the marine environment.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“The minister has stated clearly that there is no link between fisheries negotiations and any other issue. We have a right to take him at his word and hold him to that commitment. If it emerges, however that concessions on fishing rights have indeed been made as a quid pro quo then the sense of betrayal in coastal communities will be even higher after it was denied categorically today.

“Fishermen were already betrayed by the previous Tory government – that cannot be allowed to happen again.”