Spouting the gloom (Ian Tinkler)
I note the barrage of gloom and doom being poured upon us by some of our “political elitists” in Shetland Islands Council.
Gary Robinson and Jonathan Wills lament the imminent downfall of the Shetland seafood industry due to Brexit and the stance of the UK government.
Specifically “the Prime Minister said she would not seek to retain membership of the single market”. I would like to point that, not unusually, our political leader Mr Robinson follows Nicola Sturgeon’s line.
The worst possible scenario here would be a total hard break with the EU and no agreement whatsoever. That would result in World Trade Organisation tariffs being imposed on Shetland seafood exports to Europe.
The World Trade Organisation tariffs on seafood average 14 per cent, a figure more than covered by the devaluation of the pound since the EU referendum. Our position to export to Europe would, in fact, be far stronger than pre-EU referendum.
The greatest threat to Shetland welfare actually comes from the £8.5 million grant cut from the Scottish government and Sturgeon’s endless fanatical pursuit for Scottish independence, even with a Scottish deficit of some £14 billion. No comment on this from Wills or Robinson.
Just think, if Wir Shetland is successful and we gain autonomy, winning clearance from the Scottish and UK governments, then Shetland could negotiate its own trade deal with whoever we want and that could go way beyond Europe. A clear path to prosperity.
Ian Tinkler
Flawton,
Clousta.
Matthew Simpson
“The World Trade Organisation tariffs on seafood average 14 per cent, a figure more than covered by the devaluation of the pound since the EU referendum.”
Surely if we’re in such a fantastic position post-Brexit then the pound wil eventually strengthen again and we’ll be back to square one?
Ali Inkster
And if European politicians want to put up the price of European dinners then they will likely answer to European voters next time round.
John Thorburn
Just a quick comment I’m retired now but I think Brexit wouldn’t hold any fears for me if I was still in the fishing industry. What I do remember was after the EU idiots in Brussels got control of my part of the Uk fishing, we have left here in Northumberland a skeleton of what we used to have. North Shields now called pre- pack town practically no white fish landings Eyemouth where we had our factory now has no auction sales mainly shellfish and prawners, Amble the same all gone, glad I had daughters not sons trying to struggle on with the business with one hand tied behind their backs. The stupidity I’ve seen with quotas and discards is just too much.
David Spence
I hate to say this John, but if the British Fishing Industry was left up to looking after and regulating itself, it would more than likely the suck the sea’s dry of any fish……………..based purely on ‘ the quick buck mentality prevailing ‘. Short term thinking, and to hell with the long term consequences. as other fishing grounds from around the world have proven.
Tell me John, why do you think the EU introduced quota’s? Could it be anything to do with trying to preserve fishing stocks? Something the British Fishing Industry knew nothing about, hence complaining about the EU Common Fisheries Policy, I think.
If you think the EU was bad enough under its CFP, lets see the British Fishing Industry being regulated by the Norwegians…………….the EU, would be a slap on the wrist in comparison.
Ali Inkster
I have yet to speak to a fisherman that wouldn’t welcome Norwegian regulations over the CFP. Funny how those that have never set foot on a boat far less been to the fishing think they know more about the fishing industry than those that live and sometimes die for the fishing.
David Spence
As far as I can see, the only reason for having a referendum of whether to leave the EU or was purely for the support of a trade deal with the USA, known as TTIP.
Brexit, I fear, will do more damage to the UK economy and the loss of jobs based on transferring a 500 million people market to this of a 310 million market, this being the USA.
It is well known that the Conservatives love everything to do with the USA, and what better way to exemplify this by striking up a so-called trade deal without the interference of the EU getting in the way.
Now that the shackles of the EU are free from holding the UK, back, we can welcome the US private companies to takeover all state run services, education, health, housing, defense etc etc. and where workers rights will be none existing……………oh, and the UK will become of country of cheap labour, highly more corrupt Government and where human rights will also be none existing.
Thank you very much to those xenophobic, nationalistic, short minded thinking Brexiteers.
John thorburn
“Thank you very much to those xenophobic, nationalistic, short minded thinking Brexiteers”
Mr Spence I’m sad that you have lumped me into a category I don’t recognize amongst my fishy family of friends or myself.
Oh I’m not a conservative either.
David Spence
I am pleased to hear you are not a Tory, John
When you look at the bigger picture, as I see it, the only reason for the EU Referendum is purely because of the Tory Agenda of having a trade deal with the USA without having to go through the EU.
This will, more than likely, be the complete privatization of state run services, as well as many a Tory Politician making ‘ the quick buck ‘ as shareholders of the US companies taking over what was state-run services.
It will also probably mean a greater portion of the country’s GDP going towards the arms industry and military forces…….2 Aircraft Carriers, Trident………….just the tip of the iceberg.
Although you may not have been one of those Brexiteers who voted purely based on xenophobia, nationalistic patriotism, I think you were very much the minority.
Ian Tinkler
“xenophobic, nationalistic, short minded thinking Brexiteers,” how nice. That’s over half the UK. Words like that remind me of the SNPs, Robin Stevenson calling half of Scotland Referendum voters “Turncoats”, or most of Shetland people being called, “disgusting cringing tractorous neophite unionist” for voting No, another gem from “John Dickson” a “Yes boy 45% er”. Now my endorsers, all rational people who share my views. https://www.iantinklerwildcroft.com/testeminials
John thorburn
David Spence.
Ref Brexit I’m afraid nothing I feel or say would apease folk like you David. I know what made me vote for the separation and nothing will change my mind I’m afraid and after hearing Mrs Sturgeon I haven’t changed my mind over politicians. None of them seem to get it right but at least we won’t be coerced into decisions we don’t want, the mistakes ( I’m sure we’ll make) will be ours alone and not a bunch of on the gravy train Eurocrats. I remember my dad who was on ww2 convoy escorts saying thank God for the Americans. Personally I think the Europeans should be thankful for all WE did for them 71 years ago.
Derick Tulloch
There is, of course, a compromise position – which is Scottish membership of EFTA (along with Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein).
EFTA either within the UK, as suggested by Chapter 3 of the Scottish Government’s policy document ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe’, which I would urge everyone to read. Chapter 2 sets out why leaving the Single Market is a very bad idea, economically.
Or EFTA for Scotland outwith the UK.
EFTA membership, and hence continuing membership of the Single Market, offers 99% of the benefits of full EU membership, without the downsides, most pertinently, the CFP