Fishing Party trawls for votes

Fishing Party trawls for votes

The new party was launched at Peterhead

A new political party has been launched to champion the fishing industry after recent cuts in catch quotas were imposed by the European Union.

The Fishing Party plans to contest the Scottish Parliament elections in May in a bid to push the industry higher up the political agenda.

It only plans to field candidates, whose names will be revealed later this month, for the regional list system in the north-east.

Scotland's main political parties have given a mixed reaction to the launch and stress they feel unthreatened.

The Fishing Party was formally launched at a news conference in Peterhead on Monday.

Local skipper George Geddes, who described himself as the party's convener, said the fishing industry is now at a "cliff edge".

'Dissident Tories'

"During December at the fisheries council, it was really heartbreaking to come back to see what these people are actually trying to do with our industry," he said.

"Do they want a fishing industry in Scotland? I don't know if they do.

"Does this (Scottish) Executive care about the industry? I don't think it does and it's time for change."

George Geddes is convener of the new party

He said the new party is aiming to get MSPs into the Scottish Parliament who have first-hand knowledge of fishing issues.

Mr Geddes, who was previously vice chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers Assocation, said the party hoped to field up to half a dozen candidates.

The new party's launch received a downbeat reaction from Scotland's four main political parties.

The Scottish National Party described their new opponents as a "distraction" and a group of "dissident Tories".

The Scottish Conservatives said they understand the new party's anger but hoped it will be turned on Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Scottish Labour said it was "relaxed" about the launch and claimed that the coalition executive is doing all it can for the industry.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats said it stood by its record of representing fishing communities and opposing European Commission cutbacks.