Rebels abstain to leave dent in fishing policy

Government defeat: Labour celebrates narrow victory as embarrassing loss for Conservatives reopens wounds over Europe

PATRICIA WYNN DAVIES

Political Correspondent

The embarrassing Government defeat in last night's fishing policy vote was sealed by a high turnout of Labour MPs and opposition from Ulster Unionists, Tory Euro-sceptics and even the odd Tory Euro-enthusiast.

Two Tories, arch Eurosceptic Bill Cash, and Michael Carttiss, MP for Great Yarmouth, voted against. Mr Carttiss said: "We are in a situation where this Government has no control over a vital resource which provides employment on the east coast as well as the south-west.

"If a message goes from this House tonight to the European Council of Ministers that we will not put up with being trodden on by a bunch of people who don't even catch fish, who determine our fishing policy, then that message tonight has been well worth making."

A further 25 Tories either abstained, were absent or were "paired" with Labour MPs because of illness. Of the 25, 11 made a deliberate decision not to support the Government. They were: Rupert Allason; Hugh Dykes; Christopher Gill; David Porter; Tony Marlow; Richard Shepherd; Sir Teddy Taylor; Peter Thurnham; John Wilkinson; and David Wilshire; plus Sir Richard Body, the Tory refusing to take the party whip.

A senior Cabinet minister played down the scale of the defeat, arguing that it was only on a "take note" vote.

Cabinet ministers expressed surprise that Mr Cash had voted against. Although a leading Eurosceptic he has tended to support the Government since the running battles on the Maastricht Bill. But an unrepentant Mr Cash said: "The Government has let down the fishermen of Britain."

Labour business managers praised the party's "walking wounded" who turned up to vote. Hero of the night was John Fraser, recovering from a car accident, who travelled by bus from his Lambeth Norwood constituency in a head brace. Party leader, Tony Blair, said: "Tory divisions over Europe now run so deep that they have reduced Government policy to a state of virtual paralysis."

t Tory MPs who voted against the Government on the main vote: Michael Carttiss (Great Yarmouth); Bill Cash (Stafford).

Tory MPs who abstained, were away or were paired with Opposition members: Rupert Allason (Torbay); David Atkinson (Bournemouth East); Spencer Batiste (Elmet); Nicholas Budgen (Wolverhampton South West); Sir Julian Critchley (Aldershot); Hugh Dykes (Harrow East); Harold Elletson (Blackpool North) Sir Peter Fry (Wellingborough); Christopher Gill (Ludlow); Teresa Gorman (Billericay); Harry Greenway (Ealing North); Tony Marlow (Northampton North); Sir Michael Marshall (Arundel); David Porter (Waveney); Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills); Michael Spicer (Worcestershire South); Walter Sweeney (Vale of Glamorgan); Sir Peter Tapsell (Lindsey East); Sir Teddy Taylor (Southend East); Peter Thurnham (Bolton North East); John Wilkinson (Ruislip Northwood); David Wilshire (Spelthorne); Ann Winterton (Congleton).