Defence secretary fields questions on bases' future in Lossie visit

THE UK defence secretary sounded a warning over Moray's armed forces bases during a visit last week to support the Scottish Conservatives' General Election campaign.

Ben Wallace was in Lossiemouth on Thursday, November 21, to back local candidate Douglas Ross in his bid to be re-elected as Moray’s MP.

The pair joined local party activists and took several questions from local residents about the future of the armed forces in Moray.

Mr Wallace said the airbase at Lossiemouth and the army barracks at Kinloss "would be at risk if the SNP won this seat".

Mr Wallace said: "In my short time as defence secretary I’ve met with Douglas to discuss a number of local issues relating to the Ministry of Defence in Moray and to discuss the positive impact the UK Government’s investment is making locally.

"If Scotland were to separate from the UK it’s very clear that the defence footprint in Moray would disappear as the Poseidons and Typhoons at Lossiemouth are UK assets and these aircraft, personnel and everything that’s been invested in Moray would be forced to move elsewhere."

Mr Ross said: "It was great to have the defence secretary in Moray to support my campaign and to visit Lossiemouth, where there is huge investment at the RAF base to prepare for the arrival of the P8 aircraft, the first of which will arrive next year.

"The Poseidon facility has been constructed by local firm Robertson's, and the huge investment going into the base is clear for everyone to see.

"On the doorsteps, however, there is a real concern that were the SNP to win seats such as Moray and succeed in separating Scotland from the rest of the UK, that would be a massive risk to the future of the armed forces here in Moray."

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said the future of the base was secure – irrespective of Scotland's constitutional set-up. He said: "The Conservative Party is the only party that has threatened the future of RAF Lossiemouth and I was pleased to join the community in the campaign to save the base a few years back.

"The base is now Scotland’s only operational base and is therefore safe with the SNP as well as having a key role in Nato.

"The significant investment that has taken place in RAF Lossiemouth, including from Boeing, means that the base has a long-term future irrespective of Scotland’s constitutional arrangements.

"And after the sudden scrapping of the Nimrod fleet and closure of RAF Kinloss by the Tories, at a cost of billions to the taxpayer, it is only right that the UK Government reinvests in the new marine surveillance aircraft with the northern base of Lossie being the best location for them."

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