TORIES REFUSE TO GUARANTEE FUTURE OF SCOTTISH BASES

TORIES REFUSE TO GUARANTEE FUTURE OF SCOTTISH BASES

SCOTLAND LOSES IN THE PHONEY WAR BETWEEN LONDON PARTIES

The Conservatives at Westminster today (Monday) led a debate on the Labour Government’s record on defence but Shadow Defence Minister Gerald Howarth MP refused to commit to maintaining Scotland’s military bases – putting thousands of jobs at risk.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader and Defence Spokesman, Angus Robertson MP, said:

“Scotland is the real loser in the phoney war between the London parties.

“While Labour’s record on defence is woeful – over 10 000 jobs lost in Scotland since 1997 and a massive £4.3bn under spend between 2002 and 2007 – the Tories aren’t doing much better.

“Their defence spokesperson Gerald Howarth could not rule out base closures – putting jobs and communities across Scotland at risk.

“Scotland’s defence sector needs champions. In their race for the keys to Number 10, both Labour and the Tories are anything but.”