SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has jointly signed a letter to the UK Labour Government urging them to rethink their unfair allocation to fund Scotland’s vital fishing industry.

The current settlement will see Scotland receiving just 7.78% from the UK fishing fund—an 83% drop from the £166 million requested from the Scottish Government. Meanwhile England’s smaller fishing industry is set to gain over £300 million.

Allan commented:

“Once again, I find myself angered but not surprised that this UK Labour Government has treated Scotland and our important fishing industries as an afterthought.

“We’re starting to see a worrying pattern emerge from Number 10. First, we saw a deal for Scunthorpe whilst abandoning Grangemouth and now we’re seeing growth in England’s fishing sector whilst slashing the budget for Scotland’s fisherman.

“Labour has undermined all credibility by significantly short-changing Scottish fishermen and coastal communities from our share of this replacement for EU funding.

“This decision goes against the wishes of the Scottish Government who understand the importance fishing has both to the Scottish economy and our costal communities.

“The only way we can prevent similar decisions being made in the future is to become an independent nation, where the Scottish Parliament can give Scottish fisherman the deal and funding they rightly deserve.”