Fishy

The European Union negotiating round on fish and allocations of fishing grounds exemplifies Labour's problems with the botched devolution and general debauchery wreaked on the constitution of the United Kingdom in the last ten years of misrule. Previously such extensive undermining and incompetence, expressing itself from the 'war on terror' to the white fish industry could be found only in novels.

While unable to match Toodles, "whose erudition on the subject of the fishing industry was fresh and, in comparison with his ignorance of all other industrial matters, immense.", a commenter in today's Herald, who can, sums up:

'1. Scottish waters are the biggest waters in Europe. 11% of Europe's waters are Scottish the biggest of any member country.

2. The Scots don't want the right to speak FOR the UK in the EU, the Scots want to LEAD the talks on BEHALF of the UK including the other delegates from the other countries that make up the UK (we wont make them sit outside, well hopefully they will just once to see how they like it)

3. As 70% of the whole UK catch is Scottish we have the most to gain or lose from successful or unsuccessful bartering and negotiation and so are the logical choice to stand more firm than those whose economies are not as greatly affected.

4. The UK fishing industry as a whole and especially Scotland's industry has been consistently sold down the river by Westminster led negotiations, I am sure that all fisherman from all 4 countries would prefer a Scots delegate who would not give up fishing rights in order to have a better parking space in Brussels*, or to be able to expand army bases, etc . '
*(unconfirmed but probably true)

Labour in Westminster and Labour in Scotland is united in condemning and disdaining this wholly reasonable viewpoint for it deals two devastating blows to Labour and its unelected Leader.

First, it conforms wholly to the European Union of the nations and the regions ideology - Flanders leads negotiations for Belgium in the same round of talks, for instance; second, Scotland will place the interests of the fishing industry a great deal higher and more appropriately on the agenda of the United Kingdom's concerns (Cornwall's fishermen would be better served by Scotland, as would the fishermen of the eastern coasts of England and those off the Irish coast).

When Scotland brings back a decent deal for the United Kingdom's fishing industry, should Scotland's prime minister, First Minister Salmond prevail in Scotland's bid to represent their and the other nations and regions of Britain's interests, Labour at Westminster will be displayed publically, yet again, in all their Party -before -country decade of disingenuousness and disgrace .