Latest Press Releases
| UK DEFENCE RE-THINK MUST REPRIEVE SCOTTISH RAF BASES |
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| Friday, 08 April 2011 00:00 |
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Commenting on the BBC story that Ministry of Defence has won a reprieve on its £1bn funding gap this year and that David Cameron is reconsidering the Coalition’s defence cuts in the light of the conflict in Libya, the SNP’s Westminster leader and defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, said the government must lift the threat of closure from Scottish RAF bases in light of these developments.
Commenting Mr Robertson, who is the MP for Moray where RAF Lossiemouth is based, said: “ In light of these news stories the UK government and MoD should now make a statement that the threat of closure is now lifted from Scottish RAF bases. " As the MP for Moray I know RAF Lossiemouth is a hive of activity because of the Libyan crisis and their involvement in helping to enforce the no-fly zone and other ongoing operations. Typhoons from RAF Leuchars are also playing a key role in the UN backed operations. This underlines the vital role that both bases play the madness of UK government plans that could see either closed. " As jets from the Tornado and Typhoon fleets are committed to this mission in Libya, it is totally unacceptable that we have continued uncertainty over the future of their bases at home. With the Prime Minister hinting that he is reconsidering closures he should now take the opportunity to commit his government’s support for Scotland’s strategically vital bases.” |
