Ludo Thierry
Hi John – Newsnet.Scotland carrying some useful associated info today – Good to see such a respected business figure in the fishing industry cut through all the britnat media spin and come out to publicly back SNP policy (and that the P+J carry the story). Also useful info re. quadrupling of sales value of nephrops catch over a 4 year period. Link and snippets below:
https://newsnet.scot/news-analysis/fishing-industry-boss-backs-snp-at-general-election/
William Tait snr of Fraserburgh-based Klondyke Fishing Company called on fishermen to now back the SNP at the general election on 12th December according to a report in the Press & Journal.
In 2013 the combined value of North Sea and West Coast Nephrops landings amounted to £18,185,000. In 2017 combined landings had risen to £72,393,000. Within just 4 years the value of Scottish Nephrops landed quadrupled in value.
The market for Nephrops is Europe, and small fishermen rely on this market to earn a living. Any interruption in getting their product to market will have devastating consequences, on top of which, UK fishing businesses outside the Single Market will be required to provide paperwork and veterinary certificates for every catch sold at market or bought by one of the main processors.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
A quick update on the ever amusing activities of Brian Monteith MEP (for the N.E. England list). Brian is a political creature of former Scottish Office Gov General, The Baron Forsouth (Michael of that Ilk) and is genetically programmed to wreak political havoc in any organisation or institution which permits him membership.
Those of a certain vintage will have (fond?) memories of Brian’s stint as a tory list MSP (for Mid-Scot and Fife) when he proceeded to get himself slung out of the tory fold due to his secret briefings of the press against former tory branch manager David McLetchie (whose curious taxi addiction (£11,500 expenses claim) brought him low).
We all wondered if Nigel Farage (Faradge?) had completely taken leave of his senses when he appointed the bold Brian to assume the duties of Chief Whip for the Brexit party in the Euro Parlt. We didn’t have to wait long. 29 Brexit MEPs were elected in June – by my reckoning they are now down to 24 (and dropping fast). First to shake Monteith’s dust from his shoes was the Brexit MEP that loud and constant beeb promotion successfully managed to get elected on the Scotland list – a gent called Louis Stedman-Bryce. Louis initially quit as a brexit Westminster candidate on the honourable grounds of objecting to Nigel’s decision to give Johnson’s tories a free pass by standing candidates down in tory-held constituencies – and – having taken back control – has decided to fully escape and is sitting in the Euro Parlt as an Independent.
Today we learn from the beeb that Rees-Mogg’s sister and a trio of other Brexit nonentities who were elected as MEPs in June have decided to leave and are now actively backing the tories – now there’s a surprise.
Clearly Brian’s chief whip skills require a wee bit of brushing up. Alternatively – who knows – perhaps The Mad Baron Forsouth is patting his creature’s head and whispering “That’s my boy”? : Link and snippets below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50672611
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has hit out at three MEPs who quit the party and are now urging voters to back the Conservatives in the election.
He told the BBC that Annunziata Rees-Mogg, Lance Forman and Lucy Harris had strong personal links to the Tories.
But the MEPs say the Brexit Party’s participation in the election will split the Leave vote.
A fourth MEP, John Longworth, lost the whip on Wednesday for criticising the party’s election strategy.
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As far as BBC Scotland is concerned it is Bertie Anderson and the Protestant Boys of the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation that speak for the Scottish fishing industry.
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and the Tait’s don’t feature in this list of worthies.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-17153085
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