A government minister joined South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay in Ramsgate Port to meet with protesters and fishermen as part of the EU Leave campaign.

Environment minister George Eustice argued that leaving the EU would be better for both groups, suggesting laws on live animal exports were governed by the EU and under EU rule the UK are powerless to change them.

Similarly with fishing, quotas for the amount of fish that can be caught in this country are unbalanced, with French fishermen able to catch more than five times the amount of cod and haddock than British fishermen.

The pair say that without leaving the EU, this wouldn’t change.

Mr Eustice told fishermen: “The quotas for fishing in this country are extremely unbalanced. In France, fishermen are capped at catching 5,000 tonnes of cod and haddock a year whereas here it is 860 tonnes.

“If we leave it may take up to two years for changes to take place but at least it will be something we can look at.”

Mr Eustice and Mr Mackinlay also met with animal export protesters at the port.

Thanet District Council tried to ban the controversial practice from Ramsgate in 2012 after 47 sheep died at the port, but the attempt was met with High Court action, which the council lost.

Subsequently, a bill of more than £5 million was paid out in compensation and legal fees by the council.

Mr Eustice said: “I receive huge amounts of correspondence about the export of live lambs for slaughter across the Channel and I know that many residents in Kent and elsewhere in the country would like to see this trade banned.

“However, the European Commission have been clear that they would not accept any change in UK law to introduce targeted bans because it would break EU rules on free movement.

“While we have laws that govern the transport of live animals, the terrible events at Ramsgate in 2012 demonstrated that there are many additional challenges when exporting lambs by ferry.

“The overwhelming majority of our lamb exports are of meat slaughtered in the UK so this trade is not necessary and if we leave the EU the government would be free to consider new restrictions or targeted bans on ethical grounds.”

Board member for the Stronger In campaign, Damian Green, said: “The Common Fisheries Policy is better than it used to be.

"Quotas are there for a reason and if fishermen over-fish there will be no livelihood left for any of them.

“We have to work with other countries on this and have co-operative action otherwise it is pointless.”

On the animal exports issue Mr Green said: “Maintaining the maximum welfare standards of all animals in live exports is of the utmost importance.

“Maintaining the maximum welfare standards of all animals in live exports is of the utmost importance..." Stronger In board member Damian Green

“Animals could be subject to longer journeys inside of Britain even if they were exported a short way into France. What we have as members of the EU is the EU imposing maximum welfare standards for animals.

“Britain is a leader on this front and by remaining in we could raise the minimum standard for animals throughout the EU.”

Craig Mackinlay introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill to the House of Commons last week in an attempt to change the law on live animal exports.

He said: “My Bill to allow councils like TDC to ban live animal exports at their discretion passed its first stage in Parliament.

“However, it is now clear that Parliament is powerless to ban these exports, even if my Bill is successful and domestic law is changed. We have an opportunity to end this practice in Ramsgate with my Bill but only if we leave the EU.”