Fears for Scotland’s military bases

Ahead of Tuesday’s budget statement by George Osborne, and in the midst of the ongoing Strategic Defence Review, there are fears that Scotland faces the most severe cuts to its defence bases since the Cold War.

According to reports in this weekend’s edition of Scotland on Sunday, sources within the Ministry of Defence have confirmed that major RAF and army bases across Scotland face possible closure as part of the UK Government’s plans to address the budget deficit.

Among the cut backs suggested, are:

•The possible closure of Kinloss and Lossiemouth RAF bases on the Moray Firth as their continued existence relies on the deployment of new reconnaissance and strike fighter squadrons.

•The Royal Marine’s base for 45 commando in Arbroath and the potential scaling back of the Black Watch’s headquarters in Fort George near Inverness.

•The UK wide target of reducing the size of the armed services by 20% could see the number of armed forces posts in Scotland cut by 2,400 below a total complement of 10,000 north of the border.

•Whilst the Faslane-based Trident nuclear fleet is thought likely to survive, the number of Astute class submarines could be reduced, with an effect on Scotland.

•The closure of the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, which educates a number of children of armed service personnel serving in Scotland.

The news of such cuts emerged after fears were raised by the SNP over possible delays to the delivery of  new Nimrod search and rescue planes upon which RAF Kinloss relies – such fears were denied by the Ministry of Defence.

Commenting on the question marks that now hang over Scotland’s defence infrastructure, the SNP’s Leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson (whose Moray constituency includes the RAF bases at Kinloss and Lossiemouth), commented:

“All the indications are that the Strategic Defence Review could have catastrophic consequences for the defence footprint in Scotland. Having seen the significant reduction in manpower, military units and facilities in recent years this trend could continue. We need to realise how big the threat is to defence in Scotland and the MoD needs to appreciate how damaging that will be.”

And Highlands Labour MSP, David Stewart, made clear the importance of the military bases to the local economy, concluding:

“Kinloss is vitally important to the Moray economy and beyond and plays a very important role in the UK’s strategic defence.”

What is more, the fear for the future of the bases are not just confined to political opponents of the UK coalition Government.

Aviation writer Jim Ferguson told STV:

“The Defence and Security Review will look at everything with a fine tooth comb. There have got to be doubts over whether the government can afford to keep two – very efficient – airbases (Kinloss and Lossiemouth) within ten miles of each other and I’ve a horrible feeling that this will figure in the equation as well.”

Speaking to the Royal United Services Institute last week, Defence Secretary Liam Fox made clear that the he would “act ruthlessly and without sentiment” in making savings in the MOD. The fear across much of Scotland will be that cuts such as those being mooted will have severe consequences upon both the UK’s defence capabilities and those communities whose economies rely heavily on the survival of these bases.