The Cod Crusaders have won the backing of Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan in their fight for the fishing industry and communities. The Cod Crusaders have won the backing of Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan in their fight for the fishing industry and communities.

Carol MacDonald and Morag Ritchie have also voiced their disgust at the Scottish Executive for rejecting their suggestion that £9million in unspent decommissioning money should be diverted to a loan or grant scheme to help both the offshore and onshore sectors of the industry.

The fishing campaigners had a lengthy meeting with Mr Sheridan in Edinburgh yesterday, during which they briefed him on the crisis facing coastal communities. They had asked for Mr Sheridan's support because of his high profile in fighting for the disadvantaged and downtrodden.

The two sides appear to have struck a chord. Afterwards, Mr Sheridan expressed his support for control of fishing to be returned to Scotland and for Britain to pull out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

"We have very much a meeting of like minds because we in the SSP are anxious to control all our industries, from steel to shipbuilding to fishing, before they are destroyed," he said.

"Clearly the EU and the restrictions it imposes on member governments not to support indigenous industries means that all our natural resources are either under-utilised or facing destruction. If we continue to abide by CFP rules then, clearly, fishing as an industry, has a very short shelf life. It is time, in our opinion, to be much more defiant of EU diktat."

Afterwards the Cod Crusaders expressed their delight at the meeting. Mrs MacDonald said bringing the SSP on board had boosted the call for national control of fishing. She said: "We are very happy. We have strengthened our army because that is what we are now."

The Scottish Executive has rejected a proposal from the Cod Crusaders that a £9million underspend in the £40million decommissioning scheme should be diverted into helping the industry and communities.

They would like to see the money used for a grant or loan scheme to help both the onshore sector, associated industries and to help boats buy more days at sea.

An executive spokeswoman said it was up to ministers to decide how to use any unallocated money. But, under EU rules, ministers were prohibited from giving unfair support to local interests.

She said: "Whether or not it was to be allocated to fisheries-related activity would need to be decided in the light of any other new spending pressures and, in any event, we would be bound by EC state aid rules which, among other things, exclude any kind of operating aid."

Mrs MacDonald said they had put forward a genuine, commonsense proposal.

She said: "This is Scottish money but we are being governed by EU rules and regulations. What is the point of having a Scottish Executive and a Scottish Parliament?"

The idea was taken up by north-east MSP Richard Lochhead who said industry had a critical need for the money. "The money would help the remaining fleet cope . . . the cash would also go some way to easing the circumstances of the onshore sector and other ancillary industries, such as fish processors and harbour businesses."

Carol MacDonald and Morag Ritchie have also voiced their disgust at the Scottish Executive for rejecting their suggestion that £9million in unspent decommissioning money should be diverted to a loan or grant scheme to help both the offshore and onshore sectors of the industry.

The fishing campaigners had a lengthy meeting with Mr Sheridan in Edinburgh yesterday, during which they briefed him on the crisis facing coastal communities. They had asked for Mr Sheridan's support because of his high profile in fighting for the disadvantaged and downtrodden.

The two sides appear to have struck a chord. Afterwards, Mr Sheridan expressed his support for control of fishing to be returned to Scotland and for Britain to pull out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

"We have very much a meeting of like minds because we in the SSP are anxious to control all our industries, from steel to shipbuilding to fishing, before they are destroyed," he said.

"Clearly the EU and the restrictions it imposes on member governments not to support indigenous industries means that all our natural resources are either under-utilised or facing destruction. If we continue to abide by CFP rules then, clearly, fishing as an industry, has a very short shelf life. It is time, in our opinion, to be much more defiant of EU diktat."

Afterwards the Cod Crusaders expressed their delight at the meeting. Mrs MacDonald said bringing the SSP on board had boosted the call for national control of fishing. She said: "We are very happy. We have strengthened our army because that is what we are now."

The Scottish Executive has rejected a proposal from the Cod Crusaders that a £9million underspend in the £40million decommissioning scheme should be diverted into helping the industry and communities.

They would like to see the money used for a grant or loan scheme to help both the onshore sector, associated industries and to help boats buy more days at sea.

An executive spokeswoman said it was up to ministers to decide how to use any unallocated money. But, under EU rules, ministers were prohibited from giving unfair support to local interests.

She said: "Whether or not it was to be allocated to fisheries-related activity would need to be decided in the light of any other new spending pressures and, in any event, we would be bound by EC state aid rules which, among other things, exclude any kind of operating aid."

Mrs MacDonald said they had put forward a genuine, commonsense proposal.

She said: "This is Scottish money but we are being governed by EU rules and regulations. What is the point of having a Scottish Executive and a Scottish Parliament?"

The idea was taken up by north-east MSP Richard Lochhead who said industry had a critical need for the money. "The money would help the remaining fleet cope . . . the cash would also go some way to easing the circumstances of the onshore sector and other ancillary industries, such as fish processors and harbour businesses."