Any suggestions that the “writing is on the wall” for closure-threatened RAF Leuchars has been rejected by Ministry of Defence officials.
Speculation surrounding the future of the air base has continued in recent weeks. The latest round of rumours suggest RAF Lossiemouth will be spared the axe due to the crippling effect closure would have on the Moray economy.
It is widely thought that such a development would leave RAF Leuchars firmly in the firing line, however the Ministry of Defence told The Courier “nothing had changed” and that “absolutely no decision” has yet been taken.
Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander had been accused of attempting to sway the decision in Lossiemouth’s favour by suggesting the MoD should not allow “great concentrations of hotspots of economic problems” to open up.
It had been suggested this referred to Moray, which has already been adversely affected by the closure of RAF Kinloss. He did not specifically refer to any Scottish bases, and stated, “This is a matter for the MoD to take decisions about, based on the military and other criteria.”
A huge campaign has been established in a bid to save both Lossiemouth and Leuchars from closure.WarningFife Council has warned the local economy would take a £60 million hit if Leuchars was closed. In addition almost 2000 jobs would be placed at risk. An economic impact assessment also warns that schools could be closed and the housing market crippled.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty clearly feels Mr Alexander has attempted to force the government’s hand. He accused the Lib Dems of “lobbying” the MoD over potential closures and suggested there are sinister political reasons behind the decision not to announce any final decision until after the Scottish parliamentary elections in May.
Mr Docherty, a member of the House of Commons defence committee, warned that “the writing is on the wall” for Leuchars.
“By delaying the formal announcement until after the Scottish Parliament elections in May, the Lib Dems are putting their attempts to save their seats in Fife first, rather than providing stability for our armed forces and certainty for our communities in Fife and Tayside,” he said.
However when contacted by The Courier, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence firmly denied any final decision had been taken regarding the future of RAF bases in Scotland.Compelling caseNorth East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell insisted the fight to save RAF Leuchars would continue and that the case for retention remains compelling.
He said, “The first responsibility of any government is to protect its citizens from harm. With a heightened terrorist threat, air defence is essential.
“RAF Leuchars is in the right place, doing the right job, at the right time. We shall continue to make the case at every opportunity.”
North East Fife MSP Iain Smith accused Mr Docherty of attempting to score “cheap political points”, adding, “This is not about pitching one base against another. The social and economic consequences of closure of any of the Scottish bases would be significant.
“It is in no one’s interest to try and score cheap party political points on a matter of such importance.”