Seamus Logan has demanded that the Labour Government meet face to face with Scottish fishermen after a controversial EU agreement left coastal communities feeling betrayed.
The MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East has accused Westminster of treating Scotland’s fishing industry as “expendable” in pursuit of European favour, calling on the UK’s Minister for European Union Relations to come to Peterhead and explain the deal in person.
Logan is pushing for transparency, demanding the immediate release of any impact assessment related to the agreement and clarity on how much compensation Scotland can expect to receive.
The move comes amid growing anger over a new 12-year agreement with the EU, which the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has branded a “disastrous outcome” that strips the UK of any real leverage in future negotiations.
Its Chief Executive, Elspeth MacDonald, warned that this deal, touted by Labour as a diplomatic win, will do long-term harm to the Scottish fishing fleet.
Logan’s frustration echoes warnings issued by the Scottish Government, who said they were completely sidelined during negotiations.
Cabinet Secretary Angus Robertson revealed that no draft documents or proposals were shared with Holyrood despite repeated requests.
Even the Secretary of State for Scotland, Labour’s Ian Murray, appeared to backtrack during a BBC interview, initially praising the deal before admitting it might not actually benefit Scottish fishermen.
Pressed on the Federation’s concerns, Murray replied with a hesitant “yes”, before offering an odd defence involving unrelated businesses that were not affected by the agreement.
The confusion hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Just weeks ago, Logan raised fears in Parliament about Scottish fishing communities being sold out, noting his constituency’s deep ties to the sea through historic ports like Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
His fears now seem well founded.
The SNP has long accused Westminster of sidelining Scottish industries, from blocking carbon capture investment at the Acorn project to failing to intervene as Grangemouth faces closure while other UK sites get bailouts.
The numbers speak volumes.
Scotland’s fishing fleet lands nearly 70 percent of all UK fish, generating £683 million in value.
Aberdeenshire alone contributes £176 million, with the Shetland Islands adding another £83 million.
Yet the industry is still reeling from Brexit.
Workforce shortages continue to plague the seafood sector, with an estimated 20 to 25 percent of roles left vacant since leaving the EU.
Logan’s call is simple.
If Labour truly values Scotland’s fishing communities, it must listen, act and deliver — not just shake hands in Brussels and hope Peterhead forgets.
Mr Logan’s letter to the UK Government in full:
“Dear Mr Thomas-Symonds,
“In the 1970’s Westminster infamously described Scotland’s fishing industry as “expendable” and yesterday history appeared to repeat itself with our fishing industry again deemed an afterthought to Westminster. One of Scotland’s key sectors was used as a last-minute bargaining chip in negotiations demonstrating that, once again, Westminster does not understand nor care about our Scottish fishing communities in the likes of Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
“Indeed, on Radio Scotland this morning, the Secretary of State of Scotland was forced to concede this was a bad deal for fishermen and could only defend the deal by saying it was the same damaging deal as delivered by Boris Johnson, but that it had the supposedly welcome addition of being guaranteed for 12 years.
“In opposition, the Labour Party said of the Tories’ Brexit deal on fishing that: “Fishing has every right to feel betrayed and let down by this Government. The industry was promised a better deal, but they have not got one.” I am at a loss therefore to understand why the Labour Government has chosen to now extend that very same deal, now that they are in power. Further, your manifesto stated that “we recognise how damaging the thin Brexit deal done by the Conservatives has been for Scottish businesses and communities”
“Just as we witnessed throughout the Brexit process, all consideration for Scotland and respect for the conventions of devolution have been sidelined in pursuit of the interests of the Westminster government with the Scottish Government excluded from negotiations, leaving our key industries and interests to be sacrificed. A stark reminder if ever it was needed that under Westminster control, Scotland is repeatedly treated as an afterthought and that only the SNP can be trusted to stand up for Scotland. As you will be aware, the Welsh Labour First Minister also admitted the Welsh Government wasn’t fully consulted over the UK Government’s new deal despite parts of it affecting a major devolved area in fishing.
“I sought assurances from Sir Keir Starmer that this would not happen and the Labour Party promised fishing communities in Scotland that their interests would be protected in this process, but clearly the Prime Minister is treating our industry as an afterthought and after years of Westminster broken promises, fishing communities in Scotland could now find themselves in what could potentially be the worst of all worlds.
“Every other nation in Europe is able to represent its own interests at the top table of crucial negotiations like this – but under Westminster control Scotland is repeatedly an afterthought and our interests ignored.
“In respect of this, I invite you to Peterhead in my constituency to hear directly from the sector about the damage this deal will cause. Further, please publish the impact assessment of what this will mean for Scotland’s fishing communities and, while I welcome the reduction in red rape, it is imperative you make clear what monies will come to Scotland to protect our key sector.
“I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Seamus Logan MP”
