Latest Press Releases
| MORAY BASES SNUB BY FOX |
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| Thursday, 26 May 2011 00:00 |
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The Scottish National Party has criticised Defence Secretary Liam Fox for snubbing RAF disbandment ceremonies at RAF Kinloss and not meeting local community representatives while visiting Moray today. The three operational squadrons at RAF Kinloss are being disbanded in the wake of the decision by Mr Fox to cut the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft and close the base. While the Defence Secretary will be at neighbouring RAF Lossiemouth today, he is not showing his respects to the service personnel at RAF Kinloss or meeting community representatives. Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson, who is attending the disbandment ceremonies at RAF Kinloss said: “ Today is a very important day for everyone at RAF Kinloss. The role of the squadrons and their personnel are being celebrated and there is real sadness that they will now be disbanded following Whitehall defence cuts. I think it is nothing short of gross insensitivity for the Defence Secretary to come to Moray on the very same day, and snub the disbandment ceremonies. “ It is also crass to ignore the repeated requests by the local community to meet about the future of RAF Lossiemouth. Hopefully it will be clear to him in Moray that an unprecedented double base closure would be totally unacceptable.” Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said: “ It is difficult to understand why the Defence Secretary would travel all the way from London and not attend these important disbandment ceremonies. It is equally unacceptable that he is not taking the time to meet the local community. “ Moray is facing a massive challenge with the closure of RAF Kinloss. A second base closure would be unimaginable. Hopefully Defence Secretary Fox will understand that by the time he leaves Moray.” |
