Defence secretary Michael Fallon yesterday revealed he would make an announcement on the closure of military bases “very shortly” – as he repeatedly refused to guarantee the future of Fort George and RAF Kinloss.
Addressing the Press and Journal’s campaign against the closures for the first time on a visit to Glasgow, the Conservative minister failed to rule out mothballing the two north bases, leaving the fate of hundreds of jobs in the balance.
Sir Michael’s comments last night attracted scorn from local politicians campaigning against the closures, with Drew Hendry MP branding them “frankly disgraceful”.
More than 6,000 people have backed a Press and Journal petition calling for Fort George to be kept open, including Holywood actor Hugh Grant.
And this newspaper also recently revealed that the 250-year old Highland fort is the cheapest Army base in Scotland to run, while £37million has been invested in RAF Kinloss over the last three years.
But on a visit to the Clyde to announce a major new investment in ship-building, Sir Michael refused to confirm whether the two bases would be saved from the chop.
When asked by the Press and Journal yesterday whether he would guarantee that Fort George and RAF Kinloss will stay open, he said: “I am hoping to announce all that very shortly, but Scotland is getting its fair share of investment and we will be spending more in places like Lossiemouth and Faslane.
“I am not going to comment on any of the other individual sites. There are a fair number of sites right across Scotland that we’ve been looking at.”
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Mr Hendry branded the comments “unacceptable”.
He added: “Though the Tory government talks repeatedly of Scotland as an equal partner, Michael Fallon continues to ignore repeated calls to engage with the Scottish Government and local communities to discuss the review. In offering only to meet after a decision has been made shows a shocking lack of respect.
“While the MoD may want to sell off the sites to make a quick buck, they form an integral part of the Highland and Moray economies, worth millions of pounds a year, and support of hundreds of service personnel and their families.
“The refusal to guarantee their futures and stability is frankly disgraceful.”
Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart added: “This is a disappointing and ambiguous comment from the Secretary of State for Defence.
“Clearly Fort George and Kinloss have had a magnificent heritage in the Highlands and Moray and have made great contributions to these areas.
“It would be a very sad for the north if it was to lose any of these bases.”
Keith Brown, the Scottish Government’s economy and veterans’ secretary, agreed Sir Michael should clarify the future of the basis without delay.
He added: “The Scottish Government has written to the Defence Secretary asking him to meet us and discuss his plans for base cuts in Scotland. Despite promises, he has failed to do so.”
Sir Michael had earlier announced that eight new Royal Navy frigates will be built on the Clyde from early next summer.
The Defence Secretary added: “I am looking with the service chiefs – with the military – at the overall estate in Scotland to make sure that the units are in the best place to be able to recruit and particularly to be able to find work for their partners.”