THE SNP has warned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) could be considering “massive and disproportionate” cuts to the RAF in Scotland just days before an announcement is expected on the future of RAF Leuchars.
The SNP said there were reasons to believe the UK Government will close two out of three Scottish military airbases.
Party figures show that if RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth close there would be a 74% reduction in RAF personnel in Scotland, while if RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars are axed it would mean a 53% cut.
Communities living around Leuchars and in Moray home to RAF Lossiemouth have stressed there are compelling reasons to keep the status quo.
Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson said that leaving Scotland with one military airbase would be “totally unacceptable.”
Mr Robertson, who is the party’s defence spokesman, published the briefing report on the potential cuts and also contrasted the situation in Scotland with the country’s independent Nordic neighbours, which operate more bases with significantly more aircraft than the UK does in Scotland.
Defence secretary Liam Fox has signalled that key basing review decisions have already been taken in the MoD and will now need to be approved by the UK Government.
The announcement is expected to be made on Thursday.Disproportionate”There is no strategic or defence reason why the Ministry of Defence should consider massive and disproportionate cuts to the RAF in Scotland, while concentrating basing, spending and manpower in the south of England,” said Mr Robertson.
“Given Scotland’s geographic location and the increasing importance of the high north it makes no sense for Whitehall to make swingeing cuts to capability, personnel and bases.”
North East Fife MSP Roderick Campbell highlighted the importance of Leuchars to the local economy, where it sustainings jobs and supports local businesses.
“It directly and indirectly employs 1900 people in the local economy,” he said. “Businesses, schools and local services rely on the base.
“Defence secretary Liam Fox has already admitted that Scotland was disproportionately hit by a reduction in defence jobs over the decade to 2010 a decline of 27.9% north of the border, compared to an 11.6% fall for the UK as a whole.
“These facts support the case for Scotland not to have two-thirds of its airbases closed by the UK Government. Such a prospect is wholly unacceptable to the communities of north-east Fife,” he added.
Mr Robertson added, “Despite being a maritime nation we now have no maritime patrol capability at all, and the specialist base for this vital function at RAF Kinloss is being closed.
“Now RAF Lossiemouth the most capable military airbase in northern Europe and RAF Leuchars are being weighed up for closure.
“It is likely that Scotland will be left with only one military airbase, with limited operational capabilities and this is totally unacceptable,” he added.