Boris Johnson says he would get Nicola Sturgeon ‘more fish than she can possibly consume’ for Christmas

Boris Johnson has declared he would get Nicola Sturgeon “more fish than she can possibly consume” for Christmas.

Speaking at the Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, the Prime Minister was asked what he would get the First Minister to celebrate this year.

Referencing his vow to “take back control”, Mr Johnson suggested Ms Sturgeon and the people of Scotland would be given the gift of fish.

He said: “There’s all sorts of things that would arise naturally from the UK getting a new relationship with our friends in the European Union.

“One thing that may be of interest to the people of Scotland is they will become the proud possessees of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fish, shellfish, crustaceans.

“I don't know if Nicola is a keen fish eater, but she will have more than she can possibly consume herself for a very long time to come.”

The PM is trying to secure a Brexit deal before the end of the transition period this year, with fishing rights a key stumbling block.

Britain is demanding more than half the fish in British waters be reserved for UK-based fishing vessels, but the EU’s current offer is well short of this.

Mr Johnson has repeatedly criticised the EU’s approach to fishing rights, saying their existing position was “completely unacceptable”.

On average European vessels catch £581 million worth of fish in UK waters each year.

Mr Johnson has previously made fish jokes about the First Minister, including at last year’s Tory conference.

Speaking in 2019, he said: “It is one of the many bizarre features of the SNP that in spite of being called names like Salmond and Sturgeon, they are committed to handing back control of those fish to the EU."

Today’s comments came during a press conference that saw the PM warn people should “think hard” before meeting family and friends over the festive period.

He insisted a “smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas” and also suggested people should cut short their celebrations rather than enjoy the maximum permitted five days in a festive bubble.

The PM added: “Have yourselves a merry little Christmas – and I’m afraid this year, I do mean little.”

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