FISHERMEN from around the UK will converge on Westminster today to demand Theresa May keeps her promise to the industry and not delay the country’s exit from the EU’s hated Common Fisheries Policy.

At present under the proposed Withdrawal Agreement with Brussels, Britain remains in the CFP up to December 2020; the end of the original transition period and longer than was originally promised.

But the fear the fishing industry now has is that any long delay to Brexit could push that back still further.

Barrie Deas and Bertie Armstrong, the respective leaders of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations[NFFO] and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation[SFF], will hold a Commons reception this evening at which those due to attend will include Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, and Robert Goodwill, the Fisheries Minister.

In a joint statement, the two industry leaders reminded the Prime Minister of the promise her Government made to the country’s fishermen, saying: “We are delighted the future opportunities for the UK fishing industry have become a core focus of Brexit and the Government has made many significant promises that we will be a truly independent coastal state.

“We are disappointed at the current delay in exiting the Common Fisheries Policy and the prospect of an even longer delay if the Government and Parliament fail to agree a way forward.”

They said it remained clear the EU would like to continue to be able to “plunder our waters”.

Mr Deas and Mr Armstrong explained: “European leaders will attempt to persuade the UK Government to maintain the current unbalanced and unfair arrangements and this must be rejected at every point.”

They noted the public realised how fishermen were betrayed 40 years ago when the Government signed up to the CFP. “They will not accept this happening again,” insisted Messrs NFFO and SFF.

“Outside the CFP, the British fishing industry will be a global leader. Our members will produce world-class, sustainable seafood from our rich UK waters. This will bring prosperity to coastal communities and secure a long term future for the industry in all parts of the UK,” they added.

The NFFO and SFF explained when the UK became an independent coastal state, UK fishermen would operate within much fairer quota shares.

They highlighted after Brexit the UK would stop “giving away” 60 per cent of its natural fish resources and UK fisherman would not be limited to catching nine per cent of cod in the English Channel compared to French fishermen, who had an 84 per cent share.