MORAY BASES SUMMIT WITH FIRST MINISTER ALEX SALMOND

For Immediate Release: Sunday 17 October 2010

Attn:       NEWSDESKS

            DEFENCE / POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS

Key Moray business and community leaders have today (Sunday) met with

First Minister Alex Salmond at the SNP Conference in Perth to join in

calling for the retention of RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss.

The meeting comes just ahead of the UK Government announcement of the

Strategic Defence Review which may lead to defence cuts and base

closures. Mr Salmond said he was “completely behind the Moray campaign

to retain both Moray airbases”. He agreed that he would join local

business leaders in a direct last minute appeal to the UK Government

to secure the important facilities.

The meeting included Elliot Robertson (Chief Executive Robertson

Homes), Lesley Ann Parker (Moray Chamber of Commerce), Cllr John

Divers (Moray Trades Council), Moray MP Angus Robertson and Moray MSP

Richard Lochhead.

The meeting at the SNP Conference is the latest in a series of efforts

to press for the retention of RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth: A Moray

delegation has directly lobbied Secretary of State for Scotland

Michael Moore, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has made a submission to the

defence review, Moray MP Angus Robertson has met Defence Secretary

Liam Fox and First Minister Alex Salmond headed a cross-party visit to

Westminster to protect Scottish defence jobs and bases.

Speaking after the meeting with First Minister Salmond, Elliot

Robertson, the Chief Executive of Robertson Homes said:

“We are unified in our efforts to save both RAF Kinloss and RAF

Lossiemouth. Together with the First Minister and our local

parliamentarians we will continue to work with the whole community to

protect these vital bases.

“We are using every opportunity before the publication of the

Strategic Defence and Security Review to press for the retention of

RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth. In the hours ahead we will issue a

joint call to the UK government to save the bases and we hope that

even at this late stage to make an impact."

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“Both RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth are strategically important

bases and the service community is an integral part of the society and

economy of Moray. I and the Scottish Government will continue to work

hard tostand up for the bases.

“Both Moray MP Angus Robertson and MSP Richard Lochhead have been very

active on this together with local business and community leaders. We

are united in calling for the retention of both Moray bases.”

ENDS

Note:

Attendees :

Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive, Robertson Homes

Lesley Ann Parker, Chief Executive, Moray Chamber of Commerce

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director, Gordon and MacPhail

Cllr George McIntyre, Convener, Moray Council

Cllr John Divers, Moray Trades Council

Alastair Kennedy, Chairman Moray Joint Community Councils

Gavin  Ellis, Moray Tourism Forum

Alex Salmond, First Minister

Angus Robertson, MP for Moray

Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray