Frenchman Allard says he wants Farage’s job in Europe
Jim TaitA French SNP candidate in next week’s European Parliament elections says he wants to replace Nigel Farage on the EU fisheries committee.
Christian Allard made the pledge at an election hustings in Lerwick Town Hall on Saturday hosted by the Althing Debating Society.
Mr Allard, who spent many years in the Aberdeen fish trade, said Mr Farage had been a very poor attender at the fisheries committee in Brussels, which might be one reason why the UK fleet had such a bad deal.
He said the SNP had consistently opposed the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for over 40 years and he declared: “We want the CFP scrapped or fundamentally reformed. The SNP is on the side of the fishermen.”
Earlier in his whirlwind visit to Shetland Mr Allard visited the new Lerwick fishmarket (part-funded by the EU) and had an hour-long talk with Shetland Fishermen’s Association chief executive Simon Collins.
Mr Collins explained the problems local boats faced when foreign-owned vessels obstructed trawl grounds with gill nets many miles long, and briefed the candidate on the Shetland fishermen’s practical proposals for reducing the amount of fish wasted in “by-catch” and the need for an independent body to review scientific assessments of fish stocks.
Nine parties are standing for election in Thursday’s European elections, Change UK, Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, The Brexit Party, Ukip and Independent. The result is expected to be announced next Sunday.
David Spence
Has anybody questioned why the Conservatives had the EU Ref. if it was not going to be to their advantage????
What would it mean for the UK to be seperate and independent from the EU?
Firstly, I presume, new legislation would be drafted up where peoples civil and human rights would change, whether for the better or worse still remains unanswered.
Working rights and practices again would be changed…..again, whether for the better or worse remains unanswered.
Scientific research and development seriously affected as many Universities are dependant on EU Grants. What will replace it, if at all?
Movement of people travelling to and from the EU, affected in many area’s of employment, income and the way of life seriously compromised, for the better or worse?
If people from the EU are restricted in numbers to enter the Uk, I would presume the EU would equally restrict British citizens from travelling, working or residing within the EU?
There are so many issues and complexities regarding our exit from the the EU, there is no simple answer, as some Brexiteers may, stupidly, think?
Is Brexit for the greater good? Only for the few and not the many (typical Tory policy).
Mr ian Tinkler
UK universities are way above EU universities on the world scale, David. We also give far more grant money than we receive from the EU. When I was a student, pre-EU we student exchanged with the USA and Commonwealth. Far higher standard than anything the EU has to offer. Roll on Brexit, we can do that exchange again.
Laurence Paton
I see Mr Allard has set off in true MEP Gravy Trainer style.
Firstly -” He wants to replace Nigel Farage on Fisheries Committee – Nigel Farage is not on the E.U. Fisheries committee, he hasn’t been on it for about 3 years now.
He seem’s entirley unaware of the nature of this Fishery committee that the SNP and other’s like to trumpet about – It is a toothless talking shop – It has NO Legislative or legal powers what so ever. The SNP’s own MEP Ian Hudghton is a Senior Member of the same fisheries committee, don’t know how many meetings he went to but he achieved just as much Farage who had the wit to realize attendance was pointless.
Oh and well done Shetland Times for pointing out that the new fish market part funded by the E.U. but failing to remind the reader that as the UK is a NET Contributer this funding is really just a small fraction of our own taxation returned