An announcement on the future of RAF Leuchars has been further delayed as the air force and army battle it out for the right to be based in Fife, The Courier can reveal.
A decision on the future of the military bases at both Leuchars and Lossiemouth in Moray will now be made public early next week.
It is understood ministers had hoped to make an announcement before the weekend most probably on Thursday but a row over where army troops should be based on their return to the UK from Germany is complicating the issue.
And, as revealed by The Courier last week, ongoing discussions over the phone-hacking scandal have so “consumed” Westminster that there has been precious little time left to consider the basing review.
However, members of the cabinet did discuss the future of both Leuchars and Lossiemouth during a meeting in Wales on Tuesday.
It appears certain the RAF will be instructed to pull out of one of the Scottish bases. That will not lead to outright closure however, as troops returning from Germany will be expected to set up barracks at the vacant site.
A source close to the government told The Courier RAF officials were determined to stay in Fife but that the army’s top brass are similarly sold on the region.
The source said, “The RAF are very keen to be in Leuchars but the army is equally determined. It appears to make economic and strategic sense for the army to go north (ie to Lossiemouth) but officials are not happy with that option.”
They added, “It is fair to say that there is a bit of a disagreement between the RAF and the army but ultimately ministers will make the decision.”
An announcement has been promised by Tuesday at the latest when the parliament goes in to summer recess.
The source said, “It is still too close to call and looks like going right down to the wire.”