The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fears Angus base may suffer in marines cuts
RM CONDOR: MoD budget troubles lead to speculation on future of 45 Commando
Defence chiefs have been urged to come clean over any possible threat to corps numbers at the 45 Commando base on the edge of Arbroath.
It comes after Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon refused to say if multi-billion-pound budget pressures might lead to a reduction in Royal Marine numbers, impacting on the Angus base. In February, he said RM Condor’s future was “absolutely secure” when asked about potential ramifications of a basing review.
This week, 45 Commando exercised their Freedom of Angus on a march through Arbroath marking the unit’s 45-year association with the county. An East of Scotland Royal Marines Association spokesman said: “We need the frontline men and don’t want to see numbers reduced in any way.”
Any potential threat to Royal Marine numbers at the 45 Commando base in Angus would be a matter of “extreme concern”, it has been warned.
Veterans and local politicians joined to express worries over reports that the elite unit might be hit by cuts as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) struggles to meet a multi-billion-pound funding shortfall over the next decade.
And those fears have been heightened by the refusal of Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon to rule out a reduction in corps numbers, as well as the possible removal of a vital frontline role which 45 Commando performs.
The concerns emerged at the end of a week which saw the men of the Angus base exercise their proudly held Freedom of Angus with a march through the streets of Arbroath.
However, in the wake of a national newspaper report suggesting a cut to Royal Marine numbers and the possible removal of the lead commando role which 45 shares on a rotational basis with comrades from 40 and 42 Commando respectively, the defence secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have got 7,000 Royal Marines. The actual balance, the number of sailors and the number of marines, that’s a matter for the First Sea Lord to keep under review.”
He added: “What we are looking at is the way in which our armed forces work, the different tasks that they have and we are constantly looking to see that they are fit for purpose in what we do.
“So if something is no longer needed, if it’s redundant, we need to make sure that we can put the savings back into new equipment.
“That applies to buildings, it also applies to the way we work and the efficiencies we need.”
The defence secretary’s refusal to rule out personnel cuts was condemned as “lip service” by Arbroath councillor David Fairweather.
He said: “It was fantastic to see just a few days ago the reception given to the Royal Marines of 45 Commando during their march through the streets of Arbroath in recognition of the important part they play in our Angus community. I certainly hope that is something that will remain for a very long time in Angus. The Condor base is extremely important, not just in terms of being part of the community, but in economic terms as well, and has been for many years.”
He added: “It is about time the defence minister came out and started giving us concrete assurances over Condor and the Royal Marines based there rather than just paying lip service.”
A spokesman for the East of Scotland Royal Marines Association said: “They need the frontline men and it would be a great loss if there was to be any reduction in numbers.
“Royal Marines have been at Condor for 45 years, but more and more we are getting speculation about the future of the base and the numbers there, and that is not helpful.”
Only in February Sir Michael said the future of Condor as a Royal Marine base was “absolutely secure” during a visit to the site.
His pledge came against the backdrop of an MoD basing review, which will see Condor lose its airfield.