SNP WARN COALITION OVER MOD REVIEW

SNP WARN COALITION OVER MOD REVIEW

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesman Angus Robertson MP today
(Monday) warned the UK coalition government over frontline defence
cuts under the strategic defence review, while continuing with plans
for Trident renewal.

The Defence Secretary today warned the Government would have to act
'ruthlessly and without sentiment' to find cuts in the defence budget
– refusing to rule out cuts to troop numbers.

Mr Robertson said

“At a time when our frontline forces have been overstretched and under
resourced it would be grossly irresponsible to cut conventional
resources while continuing with Trident renewal.

“Scotland has already been hard hit by Labour’s defence cuts which
have seen a £4.3 billion defence underspend and almost 10,000 jobs
lost in Scotland since 1997.

“There is no denying that a strategic defence review is long overdue
but successive UK Governments have repeatedly targeted Scotland's
military for cuts and repeatedly failed to ensure Scotland receives a
fair share of defence spending.

“The Conservatives have made promises to Scotland's military - such as
reversing the amalgamation of the regiments that they must stick to.
Instead it looks like their first instinct is to reach for the knife.

"Cutting the number of serving, frontline personnel while protecting
Trident nuclear weapons is utterly ridiculous at a time when our
forces are serving in Afghanistan.

“Campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time showed how
stretched the army had become while the potential closure of airbases
will cause deep concern in communities including my constituency of
Moray.

“Scotland will be watching the defence review very closely for it’s
impact on our armed forces and their ability to continue to do their
jobs and to do them well.”