The Fishing Party was a political party in Scotland. Largely a single-issue party, their formation was prompted by those involved in the fishing industry angry at cuts in the amount of fish they were being allowed to catch as a result of the European Union Single Fisheries Policy. The rationale behind their formation was that they were in the best position to represent the fishing industry as they were part of it themselves.
There was speculation that this may result in the loss of vital votes for the Scottish National Party, as traditionally they have won the majority of the votes of those involved in the Scottish fishing industry. However the Fishing Party did not win any seats in the 2003 election. It got 5,566 votes (2.28%) on the regional list in North East Scotland. The best result was in the Banff & Buchan constituency, where the party polled 2,007 votes (7.7%). The party did not launch any candidates in the single-member constituencies.
The party has not been registered as a political party with the Electoral Commission since 2004 and is understood to be defunct.
Famous quotes containing the words fishing and/or party:
“Fly fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
“What is the disease which manifests itself in an inability to leave a party—any party at all—until it is all over and the lights are being put out?... I suppose that part of this mania for staying is due to a fear that, if I go, something good will happen and I’ll miss it. Somebody might do card tricks, or shoot somebody else.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)