CONSULTATION OFFER “AFTER” DECISION DEMONSTRATES LACK OF RESPECT
SNP MP Drew Hendry has condemned the UK Government for failing to hold talks with either the Scottish Government, Highland council or local communities on the future of Fort George and Kinloss ahead of any decision being made.
David Mundell has written to the MP to provide assurances that the MoD will engage fully with local authorities, MSPs and MPs in affected constituencies ‘when the strategy reports’, however not prior to any decision being taken on the future of the two sites in Scotland.
Commenting, Drew Hendry MP said:
“It is all very well offering engagement on the future decisions of Fort George and Kinloss, but it is of little value after the decision has been made.
“This Tory UK Government talks big about a respect agenda yet, despite months of uncertainty, the MOD continue to ignore calls from the Scottish Veterans Minister, Keith Brown to meet about the on-going Defence review, which includes Fort George and Kinloss.
“The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, has already stated that sites in Scotland are likely to be affected yet the saga drags on with a shocking lack of engagement with the Scottish Government and local people who would receive the hardest hit by a calamitous decision to close our downgrade these bases.
“David Mundell has previously written to assure me that the MOD will engage with local authorities, MSPs and MPs in effected constituencies ‘when the strategy reports’. It is hardly a meaningful consultation if it means speaking to people once you have a delivered a ‘fait a compli’.
“Let’s be clear, this is a reprehensible way to behave towards our local communities and I have, yet again, written to the Minister to ask that he meet immediately with the Scottish Government and share plans on the potential impact this review will have on Scotland, and on Fort George.”