Shannon: Brexit Gave the UK Back Its Waters
In contrast, DUP MP Jim Shannon staunchly defended Brexit and the fishing rights it returned to the UK.
“I voted to leave, and so did the majority in my constituency,” said Shannon. “We now have sovereignty over our waters, and the Government must not surrender our fishing rights back to Brussels.”
He accused the EU of acting in bad faith towards the UK and Northern Ireland in particular, referencing “lack of seeds, medicines, and even chocolate biscuits” under EU rules.
“The will of the people is all that matters, and they have spoken,” he said. “Without another referendum, there can be no return. Democracy may not always be palatable, but it must be respected.”
Olney and Conservatives: Independence at Risk
Conservative MP Sarah Olney said the UK must not waste its newfound freedoms.
“We departed the Common Fisheries Policy, meaning that for the first time since 1973, we had sovereignty over our own waters,” she said. “That must be defended.”
Olney questioned whether the current Labour Government was preparing to make concessions: “Will the Government confirm that our fishing rights will not be part of future trade-offs?”
She also warned about EU attempts to regain influence: “Brussels is committed to demanding the UK surrender fishing rights. The German ambassador even suggested we should rejoin the customs union.”
Flanagan: Implement Article 17 to Save the Inshore Fleet
MEP Luke Ming Flanagan added a broader perspective from the European Parliament, calling for full implementation of Article 17 of the CFP, which mandates that fishing opportunities be allocated based on transparent environmental and social criteria.
“Large, unselective trawlers continue to dominate our fisheries, while low-impact fishermen still don’t receive the preferential access they were promised,” said Flanagan. “The gap between policy and practice is massive.”
Stark Division Over Brexit’s Legacy
The debate underscored the polarised views still prevalent nearly a decade after the Brexit referendum. While some MPs defended the UK’s departure from the EU as a return to national control and opportunity, others portrayed it as a strategic and economic error that continues to undermine vital coastal industries.
From quota allocation to trade barriers, and from youth mobility to regulatory burden, the fishing sector has become a flashpoint in the wider debate about sovereignty, economic resilience, and democratic accountability.
The session closed with renewed calls from all sides for clarity, fairness, and long-term vision for Britain’s seafood industry—a sector that remains politically potent and economically vital.
