RAF Lossiemouth may have been saved but the fight goes on in Moray to offset the impact of the closure of RAF Kinloss.

Yesterday Finance Secretary John Swinney endorsed a charter signed by Moray Economic Partnership (MEP) which pledges members will work together to diversify Moray’s economy.

At the time of the announcement last October that Kinloss would close as an airbase it supported 2341 jobs and contributed £68 million a year to the local economy. It is to be taken over by the Army in the next few years and 1200 troops may move there.

Representatives of the MEP met Mr Swinney and Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford.

Mr Swinney said: “During the meeting I reiterated the Scottish Government’s support to businesses and communities understandably concerned about the impact of recent UK Government decisions affecting RAF Kinloss and Lossiemouth.”