Fishermen in Kent say their industry is the “sacrificial lamb” in Sir Keir Starmer’s post-Brexit deal with the EU.

The Prime Minister has reached a fresh agreement with the bloc but has been accused of a “surrender” over the extension of fishing rights for European vessels.

The deal means member states are set to receive continued access to UK waters until 2038, which had been due to expire next year.

The government says the post-Brexit “reset” will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the economy by £9 billion by 2040.

But acting chairman of the Thanet Fishermen's Association, John Nichols, has blasted the new deal.

“I think the fishing industry has become the sacrificial lamb for the third time in its history,” he said.

“Firstly, when [former PM] Edward Heath joined the then common market, then when Boris traded us off [in the withdrawal agreement of 2020] and I think happened again last night.”

Mr Nichols says member states want to “pillage our stocks” as the UK is surrounded by “exceptionally good waters”.

“It is horrible to be dictated by other member states, like when we were part of the EU,” he added.

“Brexit was about taking back control of our fisheries. But it never happened.”

When approached by KentOnline, another disgruntled fisherman said: “I can’t listen to it as it is making me so angry.

“Give me a day to digest it.”

Sir Keir’s agreement struck with Brussels will keep the current status quo regarding fishing, which gives EU boats continued access to UK waters until 2038.

The 2020 Brexit deal, which saw the UK regain 25% of EU fishing quotas, was due to expire next year.

The “reset” also means more tourists will be able to use e-gates at airports in Europe, pet passports will be introduced for UK cats and dogs, and businesses can sell burgers and sausages into the bloc again.

Sir Keir met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa at a summit in Lancaster House, London, to seal the deal.

The Prime Minister said: “It’s time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.

“We’re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.

“So that’s what this deal is all about – facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation.

“Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest. Because that is what independent, sovereign nations do.”

The “reset” deal also respects the government’s other red lines of not returning to the customs union or single market, officials said.

But Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: “We’re becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again.

“And with no details on any cap or time limits on youth mobility, fears of free movement returning will only increase. This is very concerning.”

Shadow farming minister Robbie Moore accused Sir Keir of “surrendering access to our British waters to European fishermen”.

“Whose side is he on? When Labour negotiates, Britain loses,” he added.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said the 12-year deal on access for European boats “will be the end of the fishing industry”.

Mr Farage’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Labour surrenders. Brussels bureaucrats win again.”

Sir Keir said the old deal would have meant year-on-year negotiations over fishing access and insisted fisheries would be better off under the deal, pointing particularly to the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the bloc.

“We’ve reached a deal today on fish, protecting our access, rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount that EU vessels can catch in British waters,” he told a press conference.

“Our fishing industry will also benefit from the new SPS agreement which slashes costs and red tape for our exports into the European market.

“And we already sell 70% of our seafood into that market, so it’s really significant.

“It is also opening the gates to sending shellfish back into the EU.”

The Prime Minister said a new £360 million fishing and coastal growth fund that will invest in new technology and equipment to modernise Britain’s fishing fleet would help fisheries to “take advantage of this deal”.

There will be no change to current access to fish for coastal communities and no reduction in the British quota or increase in the quota the EU is allowed to catch.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the Government has “surrendered” fishing in its deal, and that it shows Scotland is an “afterthought” in decision-making.

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said: “The Prime Minister has just sunk the United Kingdom fishing industry.”

Former prime minister Boris Johnson said it was a “total sell-out” of UK fisheries.

“A large part of Brexit was taking back control of our fantastic coastal waters. From January next year under the deal that we did, we were going to get back control of every single sprat, mackerel in UK water,” he told GB News.