Latest Press Releases
| OUTRAGE AS £4 BILLION NEW NIMRODS ARE DESTROYED |
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| Tuesday, 25 January 2011 00:00 |
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PQ REVEALS BRAND NEW OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT WILL BE SCRAPPED SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson has branded the destruction of £4 billion worth of new generation Nimrod aircraft as an act of ‘gross vandalism’. A parliamentary question by the Moray MP today (Tuesday) reveals that the break up of nine state-of-the-art aircraft – including PA04, a completed and operational new aircraft – is now underway. Three of the aircraft are more than 90% complete, and five at least 40% of the way to operational readiness. Commenting, Mr Robertson said: “The destruction of these state-of-the-art aircraft is an act of gross vandalism and a scandalous waste of £4 billion in public money. “However, the true cost may be even greater given that their cancellation raises security and safety implications that the government has never addressed. “It has become obvious that the decision to scrap Nimrod was based on cost cutting rather than strategic needs. Whether its national events like the Olympics or everyday missions such as maritime reconnaissance and rescues there is now a mammoth capability gap and lives are at risk. “The UK is making really bad decisions for defence in Scotland which leave big capability gaps. We should make better defence decisions in Scotland and not leave it to London.” |
