Fisheries

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 4:04 pm on 9 December 2004.

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Photo of Jamie McGrigor Jamie McGrigor Conservative 4:04, 9 December 2004

Not just yet.

Mr Finnie attempts to ridicule the idea that a Conservative Government could withdraw from the CFP and Richard Baker says that we would have to leave the European Union if we did so. That is another red herring. European countries with specific core interests that are being damaged sometimes have to flex their muscles. For example, France and Germany have consistently breached the growth and stability pact, which is a core European treaty requirement. They have not been expelled from the EU and neither would we be if we stood up for our fishing industry and pointed out to the rest of Europe that our fishing industry is a core industry that is being devastated by the wrong system of management.