Ex Irish PM accuses UK of picking fishing fight ‘for domestic advantage’

A former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) has accused the UK of “picking fights for domestic advantage” amid its ongoing fishing license row with France.

John Bruton, who served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997, and subsequently as the EU ambassador to Washington, told Sky News this morning that “Britain has left [the EU], nobody is questioning that, but at the same time, the EU is Britain’s biggest trading neighbour… the only land border in the world is with the EU,” he added, arguing: ” Britain needs to get on with the European Union, rather than as I sometimes fear is the case, pick fights with the European Union for domestic advantage.”

He suggested that Westminster was “switching to making it [the Northern Ireland] an issue of principle around the European Court of Justice [‘s judicial oversight]”, which he said must remain in place.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier today, Environment Secretary George Eustice echoed comments made by former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith made yesterday, claiming that Emmanuel Macron was using the ongoing fishing permits row with the UK to gather support ahead of next year’s presidential election.