A war of words over claims the SNP misled Moray residents about the possible closure of the Kinloss Army Barracks reached boiling point at Holyrood yesterday.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Douglas Ross, accused the Nationalists of scaremongering by suggesting the base would be shut amid a UK Government spending review.
The Conservative politician has demanded that Moray MP, Angus Robertson, apologise for “whipping up rumours” about the barracks.
But the SNP hit back as tensions escalated during question time at the Scottish Parliament yesterday.
Members had gathered to discuss the Ministry of Defence’s decision to axe eight Scottish bases earlier this week – including Fort George at Inverness.
Mr Ross tackled Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown, on a “reckless tweet” in which Mr Robertson said Kinloss could be closed as part of the same review.
The Tory MP demanded that Mr Brown accept the SNP had caused “unnecessary anxiety” among military personnel in Moray.
But Mr Brown accused Mr Ross of “deserting the field” by missing a meeting held by the local task-force group set up to ensure the barracks was spared the chop.
Mr Brown said Mr Ross had “let down” the Moray community, and claimed it was SNP intervention which persuaded defence bosses to maintain the base.
But Mr Ross said the cabinet secretary’s response was “shameful”.
He later added: “I had hoped someone within the SNP would take responsibility for the reckless tweet, which was published for political gain.”
Last night, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said Mr Ross should apologise to Mr Robertson “and everyone in the Highlands and Islands” for attacking his party rather than focussing on the disposal of Fort George.
Mr Lochhead added: “Mr Ross chose to depart from the cross-party consensus regarding Kinloss, and accused others of scaremongering.
“Everyone on that task-force agreed there was a danger that Kinloss Barracks could be closed, Mr Ross is trying to mislead the public by suggesting that Moray’s MP was scaremongering.
“Mr Ross represents Fort George but he didn’t raise it, and instead chose to attack local representatives who helped safeguard Kinloss.”
Mr Robertson said he would offer no apology for his “extreme scepticism” regarding the Conservative party’s approach to defence.
