David Cameron vetoes Rockall fishing agreement between Scotland and Ireland ( www.thenational.scot )

FOREIGN Secretary David Cameron has vetoed an agreement between Scotland and Ireland to allow Irish fishermen access to the rich fishing grounds around Rockall.

Ownership of the tiny granite islet 230 miles off the coast of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic is disputed by the UK and the Republic of Ireland 263 miles to the south.

Irish vessels, which traditionally fished the waters around the remote rock for haddock and squid, were barred from a 12-mile territorial zone around it after Brexit, when the UK left the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy.

Despite the Irish and Scottish governments spending two years agreeing an access deal – fisheries are a devolved power – it has now been shut down by the Foreign Office following the announcement of a General Election.

The deal involved Irish marine scientists carrying out research in the area that would be passed on to the Scottish fishing fleet in return.

The UK Government said it vetoed the deal because it could not see the benefits for Scottish fishermen, who have opposed letting Irish boats back in.

Sources said the reason was entirely political - UK Govt didn't want to be seen agreeing a deal with an EU nation