Kinloss barracks at risk of closure, warns Angus Robertson

The leader of the SNP at Westminster has accused the Ministry of Defense of breaking its promises over the future of Kinloss barracks amid claims the military base could close.

Angus Robertson. Picture Ian Rutherford

Angus Robertson warned the former RAF site on the Moray coast was again at risk of closure, just four years after the scrapping of the UK’s Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft prompted a campaign to save the base from closure.

It was handed over to the army for use as a barracks, and is now home to 39 Regiment of the Royal Engineers, who were shifted from their base near Cambridge in 2012. Kinloss is also one of three RAF Mountain Rescue bases in the UK.

The MoD is carrying out a review of its estate in an attempt to save £1 billion and cut the footprint of its bases by a third. Two lists of military sites marked for closure have been drawn up, with a third group of bases expected to be named by the end of the year.

Nimrods on the tarmac at RAF Kinloss in 2006. Picture: PA

Robertson, the MP for Moray, said the threat to Kinloss’ future was a “betrayal” so soon after the withdrawal of the RAF.

“At that time the UK Government promised an army presence at the base and for that to be under threat in such a short space of time is totally unacceptable,” Robertson said.

“Moray’s communities have been massively supportive of our military personnel based both at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.

A P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Picture: Contributed

“Tory defence cuts have hit Moray hard with the widely condemned decision to scrap the Nimrod Fleet. That should never have happened and if Kinloss were to close so soon after the Tory’s promises it would be a real kick in the teeth.”

A spokeswoman for the MoD said savings made by the estate review would be put back into defense, adding that personnel numbers were set to increase at the Faslane naval base and RAF Lossiemouth, where new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be based.

“Every penny made will be invested back into defence on things like the new maritime aircraft at Lossiemouth or the new destroyers being built on the Clyde,” the spokeswoman said. “We’ve currently named 22 sites but no decisions about future ones have been taken.”

Sites found to be surplus to requirements will be sold for housing, the MoD said.

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