Monday, October 18, 2010

Tory MP Liam Fox shows ‘Glasgow University’ style thinking putting lives in danger, Defence Review cuts place the UK in a more dangerous place




















Dear All

The Tory axe assisted by English Lib Dems is going to fall in Scotland as Tory MP Liam Fox eyes up Scottish defence bases for closure.

Two of Scotland’s three RAF bases are said to be under the threat of the axe as fears grow that the fleet of Tornados and Nimrods will be cut permanently to save up to £10 billion over five years.

The air bases are well known, Lossiemouth and Kinloss.

The Tory/Lib Dem Government wants a cut in the annual £37bn defence budget by 8%.

How much money could be saved by not taking part in economic foreign wars headed up by the US is a point worth debate.

It is time that the UK stop pretending it is an international superpower and the world’s policeman. It is a third rate country with second rate ambition.

Ann McKechin, Shadow Scottish Secretary on hearing of the proposes said:

“Scotland has a key role to play in defence and the defence review has been rushed simply to make financial cuts, rather than consider what is in our country’s long-term national security interest. The speed it has been conducted at puts our capabilities and industry skills in Scotland at risk.”

Quite so dear!

It is estimated almost 6000 people depend on their livelihood directly from employment at the bases with £158m a year being pumped into the local economy.

As well as the 6,000 closure has a knock on effect as many more people, thousands in fact will be hit resulting in indirect job losses.

RAF Leuchars in Fife which is known for housing the multi-role Typhoon combat jets is thought at present to be secure.

One thing worth noting is the quickness that the review has taken place, this is all about cutting budgets, and not about long term defence.

The Army, Navy and Airforce are being geared up for local insurgence work rather than their traditional warfare roles.

Police actions seem to be the order of the day.

This is a mistake and short term thinking.

David Cameron, Nick Clegg, George Osborne and Danny Alexander have endangered the security of the United Kingdom.

Wednesday’s Spending Review will see the Chancellor George Osborne confirmed the £5.2bn contract to build two aircraft carriers continue on the basis of it is too expensive to cancel.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox would is shaping up to be a political liability hasn’t fought the MOD corner to great effect.

Fox, formerly of Glasgow University is like a toady is going along with the cuts.

He is as bad a war leader as ‘Bungling Bob’ of the Labour Party.

The Military Chiefs have flagged up the problem of lack of fighter plane cover; Former First Sea Lords Admiral Lord West and Admiral Sir Jonathon Band have said that if the Argentines retake the Falklands it would be impossible to mount a serious attack to turf them out.

Lives have been put in danger because of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition and Liam Fox.

Fox is simply displaying typical Glasgow University thinking and contempt for ordinary working class soldiers who would be required to put their lives on the line, he thinks people are there to be used.

The Defence Review will flag up further down the line as the disaster it undoubtedly is.

Scotland and ordinary working class people lose out again under the Tories.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

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