Local Liberal Democrats pledge their support for the Save RAF Cottesmore campaign.

12.30.00pm GMT Sat 30th Jan 2010

Local Rutland and Melton Liberal Democrats, Grahame Hudson and Marc Oxley, have pledged their support for the Save RAF Cottesmore campaign.

Grahame, who is the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for Rutland and Melton and a former Royal Navy officer, said, "Neil Allison and his colleagues have done a marvellous job in mobilising support for this campaign. They have recruited over 18,500 registered supporters and 2000 signatures on the online petition in just four weeks. It is disgraceful that this Labour government have yet again failed to support the armed forces and their communities and they are proceeding with the closure of Cottesmore and the reduction of the Harrier force without conducting a strategic defence review first. I sincerely hope that every voter in the constituency will join this campaign and send a message to Gordon Brown that he cannot play politics with RAF Cottesmore and its service community."

Rutland County Councillor for Uppingham, Marc Oxley said, "The effect of the closure of RAF Cottesmore on the local economy and the people of Rutland will be felt for many years to come. The loss of all the jobs at Cottesmore and the income the base puts into the local economy will result in higher council tax bills and will have significant implications for the future of the local school and other services. Grahame and I will be doing all that we can to help the campaign to reverse this appalling decision."

Grahame has also been interviewed about the closure twice on local radio stations in the last week, once on Rutland Radio and once on Melton Community radio 103 The Eye FM. A copy of his letter to the Rutland Times can be found at the web link below.

Related Link:

Rutland Times Letter on the proposed closure of RAF Cottesmore.