Brexiteer fish protest descends into farce after pier staff refuse to allow boat to dock
2 min read
A protest by Tory MPs over the UK’s agreement with Brussels on fishing rights after Brexit ended in farce after pier staff stopped them from docking their boat.
The Holladays R8 was due to stop at Embankment Pier on its journey from Tower Bridge to Parliament ahead of a press conference chaired by Jacob Rees-Mogg.
But their plans were derailed, forcing them to hastily sail to Westminster Pier instead and temporarily delay plans to throw boxes of dead fish into the Thames.
The Fishing for Leave demonstration, which also involved Tory MPs Ross Thomson and Craig McKinlay, came amid anger at the Government's agreement with Brussels to effectively keep the UK in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy until the end of 2020.
However the focus of the protest later became former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who boarded the boat at Westminster Pier before helping campaigners to throw haddock into the river.
Prior to the boat’s arrival, Mr Rees-Mogg told journalists the event was about "about standing up for important communities across the country".
"One of the reasons this is so important for the Conservative and Unionists is that it’s a unionist issue," he added.
"It is very important for Scotland and Northern Ireland and in the north of England… to help them, and to stand up for them as an English MP is important for the unity of our nation."
Ahead of the protest, Alan Hastings of Fishing for Leave said: “Brexit would have allowed a change to new UK policy of limiting time at sea in return for landing all catches so vessels catch less but land more allowing a bright future for fish, fishermen and coastal communities.
“Being trapped in the transition means being subjected to the EU discard ban where vessel will have to cease fishing on exhausting their lowest, most pitiful quota and will resultantly go bankrupt.”
While on the vessel, Mr Farage told Sky News: “I don’t think this Government has the guts or the strength to take back our territorial waters
“During that 21 month transition there are already hundreds of under 10 metre, in-shore fishermen in this country literally existing on the brink, because the quotas from the EU aren’t enough and frankly wouldn’t cover their diesel.”
Meanwhile Scottish Ukip MEP David Coburn, on waiting for the boat to proceed towards Parliament said fishing was "desperately" needed to offer young people jobs in Scotland.
He added: “We’re happy enough to sell fish to the Spaniards for their paella, but we’re not happy to give the Spaniards fish for their paella.”
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