In this episode, I talk about Keir Starmer’s new deal with the EU and what it means for ordinary people, especially those working in fishing, food, farming and coastal towns.
I start with the UK fishing industry. For years, we were told Brexit would let us take back full control of our waters. But here’s the truth: more than half of England’s fishing quota is owned by foreign companies, mostly from the Netherlands, Spain and Iceland (BBC, 2021). One Dutch-owned company alone, Cornelis Vrolijk, controls around 20 percent of the entire English quota. These companies base their boats in the UK and follow the rules on paper, but most of the profits still end up overseas.
Meanwhile, small-scale British fishers, especially those using boats under 10 metres, get just 6 percent of England’s quota. Five rich UK families hold nearly a third of the entire UK quota themselves (Greenpeace/Unearthed, 2018). So when we talk about who actually benefits from our waters, it’s a very small club.
Some critics, like Nigel Farage, say the new EU deal is a sell-out. He called it a “surrender.” But I take a more balanced view. The deal keeps EU boats fishing in UK waters until 2038, yes, but in return, British food exporters get fewer checks and faster trade routes into Europe. That’s a big win for seafood businesses that have been hammered since Brexit by red tape and delayed lorry loads. The UK lost more than £2 billion in food and drink exports to the EU in the two years after Brexit (Food and Drink Federation, 2023). This new deal could help claw some of that back.
I also explain how quota trading works. These fishing rights aren’t handed out fairly. They’ve become assets that people can buy, sell or lease. In Northern Ireland, one boat earned £7 million in one year just by leasing its quota to other fishers without even going to sea (BBC, 2021). That shows how fishing, for some, is more about paperwork and profit than putting to sea.
The deal also touches on jobs. It includes new youth mobility terms, which might help tackle staff shortages in farming, food processing and even hospitality, sectors where local workers have been hard to find. That could bring much-needed relief for small businesses across rural areas.
I finish by talking about the politics. Some are worried that making it easier to trade with the EU means we’ll have to follow more EU rules again. Others think it’s just common sense. If you want to sell to Europe, you’re going to have to meet their standards. That’s not about surrendering, it’s about staying in business.
There’s also a brief mention of defence. As the EU boosts spending on security, there could be contracts and opportunities for UK businesses, especially in technology and supply.
So, where does that leave us? EU boats still get a fair chunk of fish from our waters, and many of our own rights are still in foreign hands. But this new deal might help rebuild trade, support jobs and bring more money into coastal towns. It won’t please everyone, but it’s not the end of the world either.
Key facts:
Keir Starmer has negotiated a deal with the EU regarding British fishing, which Nigel Farage criticised as a surrender deal. However, I believe it’s a pretty good deal.
The reset of relations between the UK and EU follows the Brexit deal organised under Boris Johnson’s premiership, which I deemed not particularly good. Mainly because it was no deal at all, it was a refusal to deal.
Brexit impacted the seafood industry in Scotland negatively by making it difficult to trade with EU partners, resulting in reduced trade and economic loss.
The new deal covers areas like defense, fishing, food product trade, and youth mobility.
Fishing quotas are seen as revenue-generating assets and can be traded and leased; historically, many UK quotas (mainly in England) were sold to foreign companies. It is those that need to be bought back!
Pre-Brexit, EU vessels had full access under the common fisheries policy. Post-Brexit, this was reduced by 25% over five years, and now it’s extended until 2038 with the same reduction.
The deal will reduce the need for checks as we agree to maintain equitable standards on UK food exports to the EU, which is beneficial for the food industry.
Both sides have agreed to work on a joint food safety agreement, following a system known as dynamic alignment.
The European Court of Justice will have the final say in disputes regarding food standards when we trade with the EU.
A future EU food standard system will require UK compliance, including financial contributions.
Youth mobility is part of the deal, allowing young people to work and study more freely between the UK and the EU.
The agreement includes the usage of e-gates at EU airports.
A security action for group Europe Fund (SAFE) has been established, offering funds for member states to rearm, possibly benefiting UK defense firms.
As always, I invite you to call in and share your views. This isn’t just about fish or trade deals. It’s about how we look after our own industries and whether we’re being honest with ourselves about what we really got from Brexit.
Be part of the show and call in! https://richardsonsrubicon.com/be-on-the-show/
Key Sources:
BBC News Reality Check, Who really owns UK fishing quotas? (2021)
Greenpeace Unearthed, The privatisation of the UK fishing industry (2018)
Food and Drink Federation, UK exports post-Brexit report (2023)
Guardian, Keir Starmer EU deal includes fishing access and food export reforms (2025)
UK Government Trade and Cooperation Agreement (2020)
Fishing News, Economic link rules tighten for UK-flagged boats (2022)