Tavish Scott said he had been misquoted

Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said he would not campaign for the abolition of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) following discussions with Jack McConnell.

Opposition parties had renewed calls for the deputy finance minister to resign over the issue.

However, after emerging from the talks with Mr McConnell, Mr Scott said that while he still has an issue with the CFP, he will not be campaigning for its abolition.

The deputy finance minister had repeated calls for Europe's one-size-fits-all policy to be scrapped.

Untenable position

Mr Scott is MSP for a constituency which is dependent on fishing and about half the population has signed a petition opposing the CFP.

First Minister Jack McConnell was pressed on the issue by the Scottish National Party and the Conservatives at question time in the Scottish Parliament.

He said that anyone who wanted to abolish the CFP was fundamentally wrong.

The opposition parties said that made Mr Scott's position untenable.

They argued that he was in breach of the ministerial code and should either resign or be sacked.

However, prior to the meeting with Mr McConnell, the MSP said his views had been misrepresented.

"The immediate priority for Scottish ministers is to secure the most positive outcome for Scotland's fishing industry at the forthcoming EU Fisheries Council in December," he said.

"This will require us to negotiate hard within the framework of the current Common Fisheries Policy.

Have we now reached the stage where the ministerial code simply isn't worth the paper it is written on David McLetchie Tory leader

He said the existing CFP needed "fundamental change" for the sake of the industry's long-term future.

"This means that we must move towards a regional management system of EU fisheries policy, the key feature of which is the effective involvement of Scottish fishing representatives.

"Simply repatriating the CFP to the UK or Scotland would not be in the best interests of Scottish fishermen, putting at risk the features of the current policy, such as relative stability and the Shetland Box, which we would wish to preserve.

"There is certainly a debate to be had about the precise nature, scope and speed of the fundamental reforms which are urgently required."

Mr Scott resigned from ministerial office in 2001 after refusing to support the executive's opposition to a boat tie-up scheme to preserve fish stocks.

Clarified position

At question time on Thursday, SNP leader John Swinney raised a newspaper article in which Mr Scott was quoted as saying fishing was not the main priority of the UK Government.

He asked Mr McConnell to say whether that was the Scottish Executive's position, saying: "If it's not, why is Mr Scott still a minister in the Scottish Executive?"

Mr McConnell told him: "Mr Scott has clarified that position yet again this morning.

Fishing issues caused Mr Scott to resign in 2001

"The issue here is not about personalities or trying to misquote people, Mr Swinney.

"It's about the importance of the Scottish fishing community and the Scottish fishing industry, and the work under way to ensure that it has a sustainable future."

Tory leader David McLetchie said he had been "amazed" to hear Mr Scott agree with the Tory policy of campaigning to scrap the CFP.

"Well he did say that, then he didn't say that and then he did say that again - all in the space of 36 hours," said Mr McLetchie.

"Now as a typical two-faced all-things-to-all-men Liberal Democrat backbencher this would be perfectly acceptable behaviour, even normal behaviour - frankly mandatory behaviour.

Ministerial code

"But it shouldn't be for a minister in the first minister's government and yet, astonishingly, Mr Scott remains a minister."

Mr McConnell repeated that Mr Scott had "clarified" his position and was in favour of CFP reform.

Mr McLetchie asked: "Have we now reached the stage where the ministerial code simply isn't worth the paper it is written on and isn't it about time to put an end to these double standards and mixed messages which is bringing this administration into disrepute?"