DAVID Mundell has effectively ruled out UK fishermen being bound by the hated Common Fisheries Policy beyond the end of the December 2020 transition period.

The Scottish Secretary made clear from this date Britain would be at fisheries negotiations as an “independent coastal state…regardless of what else happens”.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation[SFF] welcomed what it called was Mr Mundell’s “decision,” saying it had been made with Theresa May’s “blessing”.

On Brexit Day next March the UK will become an independent coastal state but as part of the 21-month transition period has agreed to be bound by the CFP regime until December 2020.

Last month, as the Brexit talks failed to make a breakthrough at the European Council, the idea of extending the transition period “emerged” as a means of getting round the obstacle of the Northern Ireland backstop.

Dominic Raab, the Brexit Secretary, said he was open-minded about the possibility and the Prime Minister suggested if a transition extension were to happen, it would last only a few months. But Whitehall sources have stressed thus far it is merely an “idea,” that has not been developed.

However, the prospect of extending the transition beyond December 2020 has caused major ructions in Conservative ranks with Brexiteers complaining of staying under EU rules for longer without any say and paying in billions more taxpayers’ money into Brussels coffers.

In addition, Scottish Tories have been exercised by the prospect of the fishing industry still being bound by the loathed CFP rules for another 12 months as quotas are set in December for the following year.

Such was the level of Scottish Conservative MPs’ concerns, Mr Mundell contacted No 10 to seek clarity while some of his colleagues warned they would seek to vote down any Brexit deal that extended the transition period without an exemption for the fishing industry.

But this morning, the Scottish Secretary appeared to have announced that UK fishermen would indeed be exempted from any transition extension.

He told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “The PM fully appreciates this issue and has been very clear. I have been very clear with her and she has been very clear with me and indeed my colleagues, who have raised this issue, that the UK will be an independent coastal state at the negotiations in relation to fishing in December 2020 regardless of what else happens.”

The SFF “welcomed the decision by Scottish Secretary David Mundell, made with the Prime Minister's blessing, to rule out the UK remaining in the CFP beyond December 2020”.

Bertie Armstrong, its Chief Executive, said: "A delay of even one day means a delay of one year until the next round of annual negotiations. So the fishing industry needs to exit the CFP as soon as possible.

"We need to take our seat at the international table. There is a sea of opportunity ahead. This is much needed and welcome news."

David Duguid, the Scottish Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan, noted: “That’s about as categoric on the subject as I have heard the Secretary of State speak.”

However, Whitehall sources insisted Mr Mundell was not making any new announcement but simply restating what the current Government position is ie that in December 2020 Britain will be at the fisheries talks as an independent coastal state.

The suggestion appears to be that the Secretary of State made his remarks without any reference to the context of a possible transition extension.

Downing Street has been approached for a comment.