THE UK Government could commit a "cruel betrayal" on Scottish fishing, the SNP have warned.

The party said that the Tories would "never be forgiven if Scotland's fishing interests are bartered away".

It came after UK Chancellor Philip Hammond was accused of selling out Britain's fishing industry earlier this week.

Hammond had said he was prepared to negotiate with the EU for "reciprocal access" for fishing fleets.

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said the Tories were risking “the worst of both worlds”, by also hitting fish processing and sales, "sectors dependent upon EU markets and freedom of movement".

The Leave campaign had argued that Scotland would take back control over fishing after Brexit.

Stevenson said: “Brexiteers promised Scotland’s fishing communities that a Leave vote would mean taking back control of our fishing waters.

“But now we know that Philip Hammond, knowing how few cards the UK government hold, wants to put the future of our fishing communities on the negotiating table.

“This isn’t the first time the Tories have seen Scotland’s fishing industry as ‘expendable’.

“Whether we’re leaving the EU or not, we need fundamental reform of international agreements with better access for Scottish fleets.

“But the Tory approach risks the worst of both worlds for our industry – bartering away our fishing waters, hammering the processors who depend on EU workers and erecting barriers to Scottish seafood reaching its biggest export market.

“If Philip Hammond follows through on his threat to Scotland’s fishing industry, that will be a cruel betrayal – and the Tories won’t be forgiven.”