14:40

Concerns over fishing rights are still high on the agenda for Scottish politicians, despite Theresa May’s assurances in her letter to the nation that her Brexit deal will take the UK “out of the common fisheries policy that has failed our coastal communities”.



Labour’s shadow Scotland secretary, Lesley Laird, has written to the Scotland secretary, David Mundell, insisting he clarify his position, having previously said that he could not support any extension of CFP rules past 2020. Describing the current deal as “a clear breach of your red line on fishing”, Laird says:

I would therefore be grateful if you were able to clarify that you will not be voting for the deal on this basis. If that is the case, I really must ask why you have not resigned your position in the cabinet?

Last week the UK government insisted May’s deal did not tie future access to British fishing waters with trade.



Earlier, the Aberdeen South MP, Ross Thomson, a hard Brexiter Tory, confirmed he would vote against the deal in the Commons. Describing the fishing arrangements as “troubling” on the BBC One’s Sunday Politics Scotland, he said: