Latest Press Releases
| SNP COMMENTS ON REPORTED MOD TORNADO CUTS |
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 21 February 2011 00:00 |
|
"Cuts which ignore defence considerations" The Scottish National Party (SNP) has reacted angrily to reports that the Ministry of Defence is considering rushing the RAF's entire fleet of Tornado ground attack aircraft out of service because of a fresh spending crisis at the Ministry of Defence. Westminster SNP Leader and Defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP who represents the Tornado base at RAF Lossiemouth said the reports reflect: "Totally short-sighted finance-driven Whitehall cuts which totally ignoredefence considerations". According to the Guardian newspaper the Ministry of Defence is trying to find an extra £1bn of savings before the end of the spending round next month, and ministers and senior military officials have been presented with a range of unpalatable options. One reportedly involves the immediate withdrawal of the RAF's eight Tornado fighters in Afghanistan, followed by an accelerated withdrawal of the rest of the fleet from service, possibly within three years. Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson went on to say: " The Ministry of Defence is now considering wholesale capability gaps. Having dumped the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft some are thinking of doing the same with the life saving Tornado ground-attack capability. " The Tornado is already scheduled for replacement by the next generation of fast jets which the MOD has recommended should be based at RAF Lossiemouth. However, it is vital that a capability gap is not opened up. Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said: " Only recently the Royal Air Force concluded that RAF Lossiemouth is the optimum base for the next generation of fast jets. It is important that a capability gap does not emerge between the draw down of Tornados and the introduction of the Joint Strike Fighter.” |
