Friday, April 19, 2024

This is an archived article. Information and/or links may well be out of date.

Based on replies by Dr Fox in today's Commons Defence Questions, BBC News says that the decision on RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Leuchars is expected soon:

News of the future of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Leuchars in Fife could be imminent, Defence Secretary Liam Fox has hinted.

Mr Fox said a number of decisions on the future of threatened air bases - including the two in Scotland - had been taken.

Answering questions in the Commons, Mr Fox said he hoped "to make progress very shortly".

Campaigners have been trying to save the Lossiemouth and Leuchars bases.

The Scottish government has said Scotland has already suffered more than its fair share of military spending cuts.

The UK government decided to scrap the fleet of new Nimrod spy planes at Kinloss in Moray as part of the defence review

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has also been gathering evidence on the possible effect of two base closures on the Moray economy.

North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell said that the campaign for keeping RAF Leuchars was in the "home straight" but the race was still on "until we reach the tape".

He urged supporters to e-mail the prime minister directly to make their own case for the base's retention.