Liam Fox's emphasis on Moray only adds to fears for RAF Leuchars

The future of RAF Leuchars in Fife looks bleak after Defence Secretary Liam Fox hinted that Lossiemouth could be spared in the latest defence cuts.

Eurofighter Typhoons at RAF Leuchars.

By David Clegg, political editor
Published in the Courier : 08.06.11
Published online : 08.06.11 @ 11.37am

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After scrapping the fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft, the RAF is set to leave Kinloss, in Moray, after the three squadrons based there were officially disbanded last month.

And Dr Fox told Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee on Tuesday that he "understood" the economic implications for Moray if the nearby Lossiemouth base was also to go.

That leaves RAF Leuchars looking increasingly likely to close, with a strong possibility army troops returning from Germany could be based there instead.

Although Dr Fox insisted no final decision had been made, he added, "I don't think you need to be an economic expert to understand the implications of the local economy in Moray were two bases to disappear. So we are aware of that. It is a very complex set of issues to be juggling with."

The hint piles pressure on axe-threatened RAF Leuchars, where strike Typhoons are based. There have already been suggestions that the air base could be scrapped by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and reused as a home to army personnel withdrawn from Germany.

And that was also backed up by Dr Fox, who said the bases would learn their fate by July 19.

"I would simply point out that with some 17,000 leaving the armed forces and some 20,000 coming back from Germany, that doesn't leave you with a great deal of room as far as accommodation goes," he said.

While Dr Fox admitted that Scotland has already taken more than its share of defence cuts, he stressed military decisions were not made using an "ethnic ledger" but on strategic and budgetary considerations.

"I am aware of the fact that, between 2000 and 2010, the total reduction was 11.6% but the reduction in Scotland was 27.9%," he said. "So over the decade there were bigger reductions made in personnel as a proportion than in other parts of the UK."

SNP MP Eilidh Whiteford, who serves on the Scottish Affairs Committee, said last night both Leuchars and Lossiemouth should be kept open.

Dr Whiteford said, "Scotland has already endured mammoth defence cuts over the last decade, and every indication is that this will be compounded by decisions being taken within the strategic defence review."

Continued...