THE UK Government would retain a permanent veto over Scotland in international fisheries negotiations, according to a draft white paper drawn up by a Whitehall department and leaked yesterday.

The document, which has still to be finalised, reveals plans to bypass the Scottish Parliament and to retain the current quotas after Brexit to reduce over-fishing in the North Sea.

READ MORE: A Tory donor will have more Scottish farming influence than MSPs

It says there would be a “duty of co-operation” within the delegation across different parts of the UK and that “wherever possible consensus will be sought on negotiating priorities” but it admitted that the Secretary of State would have the power to make a final decision if there was a disagreement.

The Scottish Government has accused Westminster of a “power grab” over responsibilities returning from the EU which are already dev-olved. Fisheries management is one of the 24 powers under contention.

Stewart Stevenson, the SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, said the paper revealed that rather than holding on to fisheries for a temporary period the UK Government wanted permanent control of them.

READ MORE: Scotland's economy needs to be protected from the Tory government

“The Tories think they can do what they want to Scotland’s fishing sector and get away with it – bartering away an industry with a proud past and a bright future, and the many jobs this vital industry supports in our coastal communities,” he said.

“The Tories’ draft white paper ... confirms they want to keep control [of fisheries] in London so they can again trade away our fishermen’s rights as part of their Brexit negotiations – as they have already begun to do.

“It’s even worse than taking fishing powers away from Scotland for seven years as threatened in the UK Withdrawal Bill.

“This is a bid to permanently remove control over fishing from Scotland’s fishermen. The Tories infamously described Scotland’s fishing industry as ‘expendable’ on our way into the EU – this proves beyond all doubt they plan to do the same on the way out.”

The draft white paper, leaked to the BBC, says the Fisheries Bill will include proposals for powers for the UK Government to control access to UK waters, including the amount of fish which is allowed to be caught.

The move comes after UK ministers agreed the fishing industry would remain in the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) – but without voting rights – until 2021 despite promises made by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove that the UK would leave the CFP after March 2019.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesman said: “We are committed to safeguarding the interests of our vital fishing communities and will continue to work closely with Scotland and other devolved administrations to develop a future fishing policy that works for the whole of the UK. Our white paper will set out our vision for the industry. We do not comment on leaked documents.”

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, told BBC Scotland: “This is about jobs, communities and fisheries management. Talk of power grabs or vetoes is unhelpful.”

The Scottish Government has refused to sign up to the UK Government’s clause 11 amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill.