Labour has been accused of being “ready to concede” British sovereignty as the EU launches an arbitration tribunal against the UK over fishing rights.
The dispute centres on Danish fishermen’s attempts to gain access to sand eel fishing in British waters, marking the first time the EU has triggered the dispute mechanism under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
And Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin has laid into the Brussels bloc in response to the tribunal.
He said: “The EU cannot accept British sovereignty over our waters, and Labour seems all too ready to concede this.
‘The EU cannot accept British sovereignty over our waters, and Labour seems all too ready to concede this,’ Sir Bernard Jenkin said
PA
“While the EU talks tough on ocean conservation, it has a shocking record and shows no signs of improvement.
“So this is a challenge to the UK’s ability to protect the marine environment and to create sustainable fisheries.
“The last Conservative Government introduced new marine protections, only possible after Brexit, to protect sand eels and in turn the threatened British bird populations that feed off them, such as Puffins.”
Sand eels are a crucial food source for native British birds, including puffins and kittiwakes.
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‘The EU is still trying to undermine British sovereignty,’ Andrew Griffith said
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But the EU is now demanding the ban on fishing the eels be lifted, claiming it breaches the UK’s post-Brexit agreement.
And time is running out – negotiations for fishing access rights must be established by the end of June 2026.
Echoing Jenkin’s comments, Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “Eight years on from the vote for Brexit and the EU is still trying to undermine British sovereignty.
“When we left the EU, it was Conservatives who established new marine protections, providing important British wildlife with the respite it needs.
Sand eels are a crucial food source for native British birds, including puffins and kittiwakes
PA
“2025 will be another year for defending British sovereignty over our own waters, as the EU challenges our ban on sand eel fishing, which prevents damage to this key part of our marine ecosystem.
“Reversing this ban would damage sand eel populations and the native birds that rely on them.
“Labour must stand firm. British law and our natural habitats are sacred – the EU cannot be allowed to pull them apart.”
John Flesher, deputy director of the Conservative Environment Network, said the Tory Government was “absolutely right to ban fishing of sandeels”, adding that it would be “a tragedy” to reverse this conservation measure.
A Government spokesman said: “We remain committed to protecting our seabirds and the wider marine environment, including fulfilling our international commitments which are distinct to our immediate focus of improving cooperation with the EU on security and tackling barriers to trade.”
