Uncertain future puts at risk plans to base 6,000 soldiers in Scotland
It is believed the referendum campaign could put at risk the plans for the army in Scotland
THE uncertainty over Scotland’s place in the UK is jeopardising plans to double the size of the army stationed north of the Border, military sources have claimed.
Letters to former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell from Defence Secretary Philip Hammond have raised doubts over whether the conclusions of the basing review last year – including increasing the size of the army in Scotland to more than 6,000 – will now all go ahead.
It had been the aim to move units from Germany to Scotland, but if they were to be scrapped or replaced by volunteer Territorial Army units, then Scotland could lose out.
The letters confirm that the plans put in place by Mr Hammond’s predecessor, Liam Fox, are still the “intent” of the MoD, but make it clear they are subject to the review of what will happen to the size of the army, due to be reduced by 17,000, and the future of the units in Germany.
It comes as military sources have let it be known that the arrival of Mr Hammond at the MoD has meant Dr Fox’s plans are all being looked at again.
While Dr Fox was a leading Scottish member of the Cabinet, Mr Hammond is less interested in the constitutional wrangle, it has been claimed.
But Colonel Clive Fairweather, a former senior commander in Scotland, said that the effective launch of the referendum campaign last month “is now a serious factor” in reviewing whether it is worth paying for the accommodation upgrade to double the size of the army in Scotland, “given the future uncertainty”.
In his first letter to Sir Menzies, Mr Hammond said the detailed implementation plans for moving troops to Leuchars, which is due to be closed as an RAF base, were “complex” and had “a clear dependency on the work currently under way on the future structure of the army”.
He added: “Until this is complete, it is not possible to provide specifics on the future usage of Leuchars.”
In a further suggestion that the plans might be unravelling, he said plans to sell off Craigiehall and the Redford and Dreghorn barracks in Edinburgh to build a new HQ at Kirknewton were now subject to a “value-for-money review”.
In addition, doubts have also been raised over the decision to choose Lossiemouth in Moray over Leuchars in Fife as the home for the Typhoon squadrons.
Mr Hammond confirmed that two Tornados flying to Lossiemouth had to be diverted to Leuchars on 5 December because of inclement weather.
He also admitted in the first letter that the cost of Lossiemouth “was marginally higher”, but “within the margin for error”.
Sir Menzies, who has Leuchars in his North East Fife constituency, has made it clear he is concerned that if it is closed as an RAF base, promises to hand it to the army may not be honoured.
And he is demanding that the decision to choose Lossiemouth as the RAF base is reviewed again. On the diversion of the Tornados and weather problems, he added: “These events demonstrate that Leuchars has a superior weather record than Lossiemouth.
“When you take into account the available flying days at Leuchars, along with its location near to centres of population and sensitive installations like Torness power station, the case for retention was and remains compelling.”
Col Fairweather said: “From what I am being told, the whole lot is under review. It looks likely that there will not be any heavy armour now coming to Scotland, and the issue of what will happen to the soldiers in Germany will have an impact on whether the plans for Scotland go ahead.
“What has happened is that the arrival of Philip Hammond means that the everything is up in the air, and he does not have Dr Fox’s sensitivity about what happens in Scotland.
“But I have been told that the fact the referendum campaign has effectively moved on is now a serious factor in looking at these plans again.”
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Comments
There are 61 comments to this article
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duelaynomore
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:32 PMIf those who support independence for Scotland are not concerned about the loss of military postings to Scotland (and the resultant salaries spent in the local communities), why are they so vociferous in condemning this newspaper for bringing up the potential problem?..................................Either you want the troops out or you do not? ....................................As for nuclear subs, have we ever had a really big incident with them, to make us lose sleep? .............. not for me anyway. .........Just based on economics, I do not want to lose those salaries from being spent this side of the borde, we need every paying job we can get and keep them..
Canton-eze
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:54 PM#56 - Is "Jolly" a nom-de-plume for the doofer whose name is at the head of this, yet another depressingly predictable anti-Scotland article?
Derick fae Yell
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:03 PMMaybe the troops are off looking for the Positive Case for The Union. presume it's out there somewhere. anybody?? hello??? hello??? who is paying the 'Scotsman' to exist? not the dwindling number of readers that's for sure!! get with the program guys
panayiotis
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 09:02 PMOf course the forces will be affected severely if the referendum falls to the affirmative,Scotland will be lucky to even have a coast guard and a gendarme force. The cost in maintaining an army of any sorts today is prohibitive. Scotland will most likely resort to some form of National Guard with multiple uses.
Canton-eze
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 07:33 PM#56 - Your attention span limited by the "intellect" that drives it? Try harder.
Jolly
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 06:39 PM55 Canon - eze Your comment was too long and very boring
Canton-eze
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 06:31 PM#24 Bill Brown – “Day after day, scare story after scare story. Does this newspaper have no shame?” Your question is of course rhetorical, Bill, and known to all. Your view has been recorded by many on these forums, and yet the “supporters” of the status quo can’t, individually or collectively, set out a coherent argument. Instead, this pit of a newspaper sends in the clowns (you know who they are) to infest these columns night and day. And all they do is attempt to scare, using insult and personal abuse as weaponry. A sure course to eventual self-destruction. As you cogently remind us, Bill Brown, “your [The Scotsman - sic!] 'journalists' have the wherewithal, you have the platform.” And therein lies the problem. They have the platform and they have the wherewithal. They use both to try to undermine the democratic process in Scotland. From England. What a cowardly bunch. Inspiring, eh?
Tailspin
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 05:19 PMRegardless of the reason; defense cuts; independence or just short shortsightedness the major issue in Scotland is going to be the loss of another airfield... There are not enough runways in Scotland now to meet the current, let a lone future, needs of the flying public. All I read about is the rush to convert much needed airports into Tescos, strip malls and council housing. I makes little sense to me that you think driving over Highland roads for three hours to get to the only commercial airport in Glasgow is acceptable.
Rhynieman
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 04:52 PMEasyJet Leuchars....paint the fighter jets orange and offer a superfast service for Americans wanting to play golf in St Andrews before going home in time for apple pie.
Rhynieman
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 04:47 PMCan you believe it just as we were going to get more soldiers in Scotland all this independence melarky turns up and spoils everything. Wonder what the SkittishMan reporters will come up with next.
StephenGash
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 02:44 PMScotland going independent is about as likely as it having an airforce of flying pigs. However, if it does, it will likely be a recipient of English foreign aid with which it can buy French jet fighters, that it can then station in Leuchars.
Gibbo
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 02:36 PMI joined the army in 1954, the Cameron Highlanders (79th) served three years with them and re enlisted with the Royal Signals to complete 23 years in the British Army, a very patriotic Britain at that time, the destruction of the Scottish Battlions started in 1962 when the Camerons Ammalgonated with the Seaforths to form the Queens own nighlanders, lo and behold just a few years later they again ammalgomanted this time with the Gordons to become the Higjhlanders at the same tim we seen the demise of the HLI, Cameroninans etc etc to my way of thinking this was Westminster taking away the identity of the Scottish soldiers and since then there has been a steady decline in our arm of the Army, even the training of the Scottish regiments was removed from our own barracks and taken down to England, that says it all, this Westminster Government has slowly but surely taken away Scotlands esteem and name, I used to be a patriotic BRIT now I am a very passionate SCOT, roll on independence but lets have May first.
David Ban
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 01:12 PMIn the 18th.century Scotland had 22,000.00 men under arms in the Highlands. It is all a matter of culture, attitude and training. No wonder the Hanoverians put the cultural genocide into top gear.
SassyC
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:02 PMGoodness..... Is that Westminster beginning to see the bigger picture at last? Keep your troops. In an independent Scotland we will work on our own defence policy. It wasn't so long ago our troop numbers were decimated and then, lo and behold, Westminster announced they would draft in extra UK soldiers. Sinister or what? Sooo glad they are maybe going to decide not to bother!
SassyC
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:01 PMGoodness..... Is that Westminster beginning to see the bigger picture at last? Keep your troops. In an independent Scotland we will work on our own defence policy. It wasn't so long ago our troop numbers were decimated and then, lo and behold, Westminster announced they would draft in extra UK soldiers. Sinister or what? Sooo glad they are maybe going to decide not to bother!
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