The Conservative leader visited Bridlington in East Yorkshire on Friday and met fishermen from the town
Kemi Badenoch has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to visit fishermen who fear that the UK’s recently negotiated trade deal with the European Union could “kill” their livelihoods.
Speaking during her visit to Bridlington, East Yorkshire, on Friday, the Conservative leader met with local fishermen and industry representatives, many of whom are furious over the extension of EU access to British waters. The new deal, which grants continental fleets a further 12 years of fishing rights, has sparked outrage in coastal communities already grappling with recruitment challenges and falling profits.
“They’ve been telling me that Keir Starmer does not understand what they are going through,” Mrs Badenoch told broadcasters. “They could not believe it. They said they woke up one day and just heard that fishing rights have been given to Europe for 12 years.”
Mrs Badenoch, who is seen as a rising star within the Conservative ranks, criticised the Labour Government for what she described as a betrayal of British fishing communities. She said the extension largely benefits French fleets and leaves local fishermen feeling “forgotten” and sidelined.
“The people I’ve spoken to today feel they’ve been completely left behind,” she continued. “They say this deal is going to kill them. They hate the fact that people think that they’re just a small industry that can be pushed to the side.”
The 12-year extension is part of a wider post-Brexit trade settlement aimed at bolstering food, farming, and commercial ties with the EU. While Downing Street insists the agreement provides “certainty and stability” for all parties involved, critics argue that it offers little protection to Britain’s struggling inshore fishing industry.
“The fishermen I spoke to told me their children don’t want to follow them into the trade,” said Mrs Badenoch. “They can’t find staff. People would rather work at Tesco or be binmen than go out on the vessels. And someone has to speak up for them. That’s why I’m here.”
When asked what message she had for the Prime Minister, Mrs Badenoch said bluntly: “He needs to come here and listen to the fishermen I’ve just spoken to. This industry is not just a nostalgic talking point—it’s people’s lives, their communities, and our national identity.”
Sir Keir Starmer has defended the EU agreement, dismissing what he termed “the myth that next year everybody was free to do what they like” had the deal not been extended. He argued that the 12-year arrangement avoids annual uncertainty and provides long-term planning opportunities for fisheries and allied industries.
However, Conservative figures have lambasted the decision, saying that yearly negotiations would have given the UK greater leverage and allowed for more flexible, responsive arrangements based on seasonal quotas and environmental conditions.
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Bridlington, once a thriving fishing port, has become a symbol of post-Brexit frustration among small coastal towns. Local industry leaders fear that without immediate Government support and investment, the region’s fishing heritage could soon become a thing of the past.
“It’s not just about quotas and access,” one fisherman told reporters on the quay. “It’s about respect. We were told we’d be taking back control, and now we’re giving it away again.”
With tensions mounting in fishing communities across the UK, Mrs Badenoch’s challenge has added fresh political pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to engage more directly with those affected.
Whether the Prime Minister will heed the call remains to be seen, but as fishermen in Bridlington and beyond continue to voice their frustrations, the political tide on this issue may be far from settled.
