There was anger in the House of Commons as the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford described the post-Brexit trade deal as a "con" for fishermen.

Mr Blackford told the House: "I am just wondering how on earth the Prime Minister can talk about taking back control of waters when Scottish fisherman are going to have less access and less fish to catch as a consequence of his con deal?"

Boris Johnson replied: "I must correct (Mr Blackford) in what he says because in fact, under this deal, we have taken back control of our waters, and indeed Scottish fishermen from the get-go will have access to bigger quotas of all the relevant stocks."

READ MORE: Politics LIVE: MPs set to vote on EU-UK Brexit trade deal

Mr Johnson claimed it is "highly unlikely" that the people of Scotland will "take a decision to cast away their new found freedoms and the new found opportunities" by seeking to rejoin the EU - something the SNP wants to do should it achieve independence for the country.

The Prime Minister said the UK will be able to design its own standards and regulations, with the laws passed by the Commons interpreted "solely by British judges sitting in British courts".

He added there will be opportunities to devise new ways to "spur and encourage flourishing sectors", including green energy and life sciences.

Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray lodged a parliamentary amendment to introduce a new clause to the Brexit trade deal which would allow devolved governments to join the Erasmus+ programme.

The Edinburgh South MP also lodged an amendment which would require the UK Government to publish proposals to allow the financial services sector full access to EU markets before the end of February.

HeraldScotland: Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine approved in UK for mass roll-outOxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine approved in UK for mass roll-out

Coronavirus: Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine approved for use in UK

A Covid-19 vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca has been approved for use in the UK.

READ MORE: The jab,  designed by scientists at the University of Oxford, which has been described as a “game changer”, was given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

HeraldScotland: Glasgow will show its resilience again - Stuart PatrickGlasgow will show its resilience again - Stuart Patrick

Opinion: Glasgow will show its resilience again - Stuart Patrick​

In this truly horrible year it is perhaps unsurprising that a new virus variant should appear just in time for Christmas, once more throwing government and business into turmoil.

READ MORE: If consumer facing businesses are to endure several more weeks of lockdown then we must continue to call for government to increase financial support, anticipating that the rolling out of vaccines will finally bring both medical and economic relief.

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