Armed Forces Minister expresses desire to maintain airfield at Leuchars

Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois has spent an entire day at RAF Leuchars as a guest of No 1 (F) Squadron.

It followed a statement by the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas who claimed the “very heart” of Britain’s maritime defence forces would be damaged by Scotland breaking away from the UK.

Mr Francois said the scale of Britain’s armed forces delivered a far greater level of security and safety for all than two separate ever forces could.

But he said another key message he wanted to send out to residents in Fife was that it was the intention to keep Leuchars operational as an RAF airfield once the army had taken over.

He said the Ministry of Defence was “still working through the precise numbers” but it had been confirmed that an RAF presence would continue to keep the runway operational.

Asked by The Courier whether civilian airlines could fly out of Leuchars in future as recently speculated, he said: “If someone was to approach us seriously we would entertain a conversation.

“At the moment there hasn’t been any approach. I’m not sure how practical that’s going to be.”