Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie has pledged to take the case for the retention of RAF Leuchars “direct to David Cameron.”
During a meeting with campaigners to which The Courier was given exclusive access Ms Goldie said she would personally ensure the Prime Minister is left in no doubt as to the level of opposition to closure.
“I will do everything I can to relay your concerns directly to David Cameron,” she said. “I am hearing a very strong local voice here…and I will make sure he is aware of that.”
With a decision on which RAF facility faces the axe RAF Lossiemouth is also under threat expected in late May or early June, campaigners are pulling out all the stops in a bid to ensure the world-famous Fife base is spared.
Ms Goldie said she would be happy to press the case in the corridors of power.
“I will also make it clear to David Cameron that you would welcome the opportunity for a meeting with him,” Ms Goldie continued. “We can and do speak with one another…and I am more than happy to be a conduit between yourselves and the Prime Minister.
“David Cameron has made it clear there are genuine challenges facing the coalition government, not least the need to fill a £38 billion black hole in the defence budget. Something clearly has to be done about that.”
Nevertheless, Ms Goldie said she understood the concerns of campaigners and acknowledged that closure of RAF Leuchars would have a potentially devastating impact on the community.
“I want to make a very robust case for the retention of both bases in Scotland,” she continued. “It is clear to me today that RAF Leuchars is very important to the local community and that the base adds a lot of civic value to the area.”‘Ripple effect’Ms Goldie said she understood that some schools including primaries in Leuchars and Guardbridge would “hardly be sustainable” if the base was closed.
“Any closure of the base would obviously have a ripple effect in many areas of local life,” she continued. “The one thing I can offer to do is to make sure all of the concerns and arguments raised here reach the desk of the Prime Minister.
“It is important for David Cameron to realise how broadly representative the campaign behind the base is. It is certainly clear to me that RAF Leuchars is very much woven into the fabric round here.
“Meeting campaigners has been very helpful and I would like to congratulate everybody involved. I take my hat off to you all.”
Vice-chairwoman of the residents’ action force Carroll Finnie was among those grilling Ms Goldie and said she was impressed by what she had heard.
“I think the meeting went very well,” she said. “It was very positive and I feel Ms Goldie understands our concerns. I am confident our message will get to David Cameron, and that is extremely welcome.”
Campaigners are set to pen a letter which Ms Goldie will deliver to the Prime Minister. It will include an assessment of the impact closure would have, both on the Fife economy and the wider community.
Fife Council has predicted closure of the base would cost the local economy about £60 million, while some 2000 jobs could be lost.