Fight goes on to save city Army HQ

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the Army’s Edinburgh headquarters today pledged to continue the battle despite a UK Government statement confirming its closure.

Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey said last night the 2nd Division headquarters at Craigiehall would close with the loss of 103 jobs as part of a restructuring of regional divisions across the UK and the setting up of a new headquarters support command at Aldershot in Hampshire.

But Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Mike Crockart said he did not believe Mr Harvey’s statement was the final word on the site’s future.

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The Craigiehall closure was first announced in the summer by the then Defence Secretary Liam Fox, as part of the Strategic Defence Review, which also included plans to close and sell off Edinburgh’s Redford and Dreghorn barracks.

But last week there were signs that a rethink was under way and the Ministry of Defence said further work had to be done.

Mr Crockart said: “Until such time as a different decision is made, the Government states its previous decision. But a capacity review is still going on. Craigiehall, Redford and Dreghorn are being looked at as part of that.

“I’m still making a strong case that what has been decided previously doesn’t make any sense and they should think again.”

Mr Harvey’s statement came in response to a written parliamentary question from Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy.

Mr Harvey said there would be a total of 440 job losses among civilian staff at headquarters across the UK as a result of the restructuring.

The job losses would be offset by the creation of a number of new posts at Aldershot.

He added: “Civilian staff declared surplus will be placed in the department’s redeployment pool.”

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Mr Murphy said: “This is another result of a deeply flawed defence review and will be a big blow to Edinburgh, which is being hardest hit in this round of cuts.

“Savings must be made, but the defence review, which is already looking out of date, is driven by cuts which go too far and too fast, not by the defence needs of our country.

“The whole defence review should be reopened so we can get the right structure with the right personnel in the right place.

“Civilian staff play a critical role in supporting our brave armed forces and these sudden cuts will be a blow to morale not just at Edinburgh but across the UK.”