The battle lines have been drawn as Moray prepares to fight for the future of the Kinloss army barracks.
During a meeting of the full council yesterday, there was cross-party consensus on the need to save the base from the prospect of closure.
The local authority announced that the Moray Economic Partnership group – which was established during a successful effort to preserve RAF Lossiemouth six years ago – would be expanded as part of the new campaign.
Moray Council convener, Allan Wright, claimed the threat to the barracks was “an enormously serious issue”.
The Conservative councillor added: “We will do everything possible to retain Kinloss Barracks, and we have a positive track record after a similar situation six years ago.
“It will be vitally important for us all to pull in the same direction.”
MEP chairman, John Cowe, vowed to call an extraordinary meeting of members, by the end of next week, to decide on the steps they would take to highlight the importance of the base.
The site is in jeopardy because of a massive Ministry of Defence spending review aimed at saving £500million.
The Kinloss Army Barracks is thought to contribute tens of millions of pounds to the Moray economy annually, and employs 700 service personnel as part of the 39 Engineer Regiment.
The leader of the council’s SNP opposition group, Gary Coull, pledged his support to the combined effort.
Mr Coull added: “We need a strong task force, representing a wide range of interests, to make the case for retention of the base, and to look at contingency plans should the outcome be less positive.”
Labour councillor Sean Morton, who represents the Fochabers Lhanbryde ward, welcomed the cross-party agreement.
And he added: “People want to know politicians of all stripes are ready to rally behind the base.
“In the past, Moray came together to oppose base closures and that’s what we should do now. Only with everyone getting round the table will anything get done.”
Moray Greens also backed the agreement, as convener James Mackessack-Leitch praised the value of “people power”.
