A SCOTTISH Tory MP has been challenged to repeat his comments about Brexit’s impact on Scottish fishermen at one of the harbours in his constituency.

David Duguid, who represents the Banff and Buchan constituency which covers the north-east coast, argued it would be difficult to deliver on Boris Johnson’s promise to compensate the fishing sector for disruption caused by leaving the EU.

The sector is furious with Tory ministers, who they feel have forced them to accept the “worst of both worlds” according to a letter from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.

The group wrote to the Prime Minister warning of “huge disappointment and a great deal of anger about your failure to deliver on promises made repeatedly to this industry”.

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The chief executive, Elspeth Macdonald, detailed the shortcomings of the trade and Co-operation Agreement and how “many in our industry now fear for their future”.

She added that troubles with Brexit red tape mean many boats are now sitting tied to the quay, while others make 72-hour round trips to Denmark to land fish so that they can ensure a fair price and freshness.

Johnson had promised compensation to fishermen affected during the Liaison Committee meeting this week but the Environment Secretary dodged questions on the issue after.

Macdonald called to see the details of the compensation scheme as “a matter of urgency” – adding “of course this must be new money, and not taken from the £100m you have already announced for investment and innovation”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Glenn Campbell this morning Duguid could not reveal further information about the compensation scheme.

“It’s not just a simple case of ‘Brexit happened, so give me compensation’,” he said. “And it’s not a case of, it’s very difficult to assign blame for want of a better word to one particular issue.”

Campbell told the MP that the Scottish Tories are calling for the money to be brought forward, adding: “Surely you must support that in principle.”

He replied: “Well money is being brought forward. The UK Government is already committed to £100m to provide support-“

The journalist cut off Duguid as this cash was from a support scheme to invest in the industry – the question was about compensation for “the loss that businesses are suffering because their fish is arriving in France rotten or they cant send it in the first place”.

Duguid said this “high-level description of the issue” doesn’t “go into enough detail”.

READ MORE: 'How long's a piece of string': Tory panned over 'contemptible' Brexit quip

He went on: “We need to do – and this is why I’m encouraging the industry to do all over – is provide as much information, as much detailed, precise and clear information on what the issues are initially to make sure we can manage those issues but ultimately if there is going to be any additional financial support then we need to get to the bottom of where the issues are for that reason as well.”

Online, MSPs and MPs were quick to jump on the interview. “I wonder if Mr Duguid would be brave enough to repeat this sentence at Macduff harbour in his constituency,” said the SNP’s Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth.

“This’ll go down well in his North East constituency,” added Lee Robb.

Neil Gray, the SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts, told Duguid to “own it, apologise and compensate”.

“It’s a case of you misled fishing communities about what your Brexit was going to look like,” he told the MP. “Then you voted for the rotten deal we warned you would cause these problems. Then fishing businesses lost tens of thousands in stock because of your Brexit.”

READ MORE: Scottish fishermen outline broken Brexit promises in letter to Boris Johnson

Ross Colquhoun added: “I see Tories are now attempting to blame the fishing industry for not providing enough detail about the problems they are facing.

“They’ve thrown Scotland’s fishing industry under a Brexit bus.”

Duguid was also under fire earlier this week after another “excoriating” interview with the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme.

The Scotland Office minister was asked when he thought Scottish businesses would be able to export as smoothly as they did before Brexit – he replied: “How log’s a piece of string?”

The comment came after Jamie McMillan, managing director of Lochfyne Langoustines, warned his business is on the brink of bankruptcy.