The UK government’s latest post-Brexit trade agreement with the European Union—touted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as a “win-win”—has triggered a furious backlash from Scotland’s fishing industry, which accuses Westminster of trading away the future of coastal communities in exchange for smoother EU access for exporters.
Announced at the first formal UK-EU summit under Starmer’s leadership, the 12-year deal cements access for European vessels to UK waters until 2038. In return, Britain will benefit from reduced food export checks and a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) framework that ministers say will ease cross-border trade friction.
Fury from Scottish Fishing Leaders
To the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), the deal is no triumph. It’s a betrayal.
“This is not a rollover. It’s a total capitulation to the EU and a disastrous outcome for the Scottish fishing fleet,” said Elspeth Macdonald, SFF’s chief executive, in a scathing interview on BBC Radio Scotland.
She warned that the agreement effectively removes any leverage the UK might have had in future negotiations, locking the country into disadvantageous terms for more than a decade. “The EU continues to take a far bigger share of the resources in our waters than they are entitled to,” she added.
The previous Brexit deal—due to expire in 2026—had allowed the UK to claw back 25% of fishing rights over a five-year period. But European boats retained access to UK waters, a compromise widely criticised by Scottish fishers. The new deal extends those same terms for another 12 years, effectively shelving any chance of reclaiming more quota or excluding EU vessels.
Forbes: ‘Great Betrayal of Our Fishing Fleet’
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said the Scottish Government was not consulted before the agreement was finalised. She condemned the deal as “astonishing” in both its process and content.
“Given the importance of fishing to Scotland, it is also astonishing that the Scottish Government was given no warning of this great betrayal of our fishing fleet,” Forbes said, while welcoming other aspects of the SPS agreement that she said would begin to “unpick a small part of the damage that Brexit continues to inflict.”
Winners and Losers
While fishing groups feel jilted, parts of the food industry have welcomed the agreement.
Salmon Scotland, which represents the aquaculture sector, called it a major step forward. “This deal slashes red tape, eases movement for people and products, and restores some badly needed certainty,” a spokesperson said. “Our members now have much smoother access to European markets, which account for a significant portion of our exports.”
Starmer, in his official statement, framed the deal as a reset—a move away from the “stale old debates of the past” and a step towards pragmatic cooperation.
“This agreement tears down barriers to trade and ends the needlessly difficult process of selling Scottish products in Europe,” the Prime Minister said. “It’s time now for Britain to look forwards and outwards as a proud, sovereign nation on the world stage.”
A Calculated Trade-Off
From a policy standpoint, the deal underscores Labour’s priority: restoring frictionless trade with the EU without reopening core Brexit treaties.
The fishing concessions—widely viewed as symbolic of sovereignty during the Brexit campaign—appear to have been offered as part of a broader reset strategy. In exchange, Britain gains access to simplified export procedures for agri-food goods, streamlined border checks, and a new mutual recognition mechanism for certain sanitary standards.
Additional perks include the reintroduction of eGate access at some EU airports for UK passport holders—an issue that had frustrated many British tourists since 2021.
Political Fallout in Scotland
The timing of the deal is politically charged. Labour is making a concerted push to regain ground in Scotland ahead of the next UK general election. The fishing backlash, however, could complicate that effort in coastal constituencies, particularly in the northeast and islands where SNP and Conservative candidates have traditionally found strong support among working fishing communities.
Critics say the deal reveals how easily Scottish interests can be sidelined.
“This is proof that once again, Scottish fishing is treated as expendable,” Macdonald said. “We’ve seen it before, and we’re seeing it again. Every time the UK wants something from Europe, fishing is the price.”
No Quota Cuts—But No Gains Either
Officials in Westminster were quick to stress that the deal contains no reduction in Britain’s quota share, nor any increase in what EU vessels can catch. But that’s cold comfort to an industry that had hoped to expand its control over national waters post-Brexit.
| Aspect | Previous Deal (2021–2026) | New Deal (2026–2038) |
|---|---|---|
| UK Quota Share | +25% over 5 years | Maintained |
| EU Vessel Access | Unchanged | Extended for 12 more years |
| SPS Barriers | High | Significantly reduced |
| Consultation with Scotland | Partial | Minimal or none |
Industry experts say the missed opportunity to rebalance quotas or restrict access reflects a political choice: trade fluidity over sectoral autonomy.
What Comes Next?
While fishing groups plan to lobby hard for future safeguards and possible compensation, the legal architecture of the new deal makes it hard to see a reversal. With a 12-year horizon and no built-in quota review mechanism, the deal locks in the current status quo—an outcome that critics say disproportionately hurts Scottish boats.
For now, Westminster insists this is a fair deal for the whole UK.
Whether that argument holds in Fraserburgh, Peterhead, or Stornoway remains to be seen.
