Prime Minister Theresa May has been urged to step in to save the Kinloss Army Barracks from closure.
Moray MP Angus Robertson made the urgent appeal after it was revealed that Scottish bases would “likely” be closed as part of a Ministry of Defence (MoD) estates review.
The SNP politician said the Conservative party had a moral duty to maintain the barracks after establishing it to make amends for the controversial closure of RAF Kinloss in 2011.
He said it would be a “complete betrayal” of promises made at that time if the axe was to fall on the base so soon after it opened.
He wrote: “I urge you to make a commitment that Kinloss Barracks will not close, and the promises made will be kept by the MoD and by your government.”
But last night, Downing Street said that Mr Robertson’s plea would not be considered until his letter arrived with the prime minister.
A No 10 spokeswoman said she was unable to offer any indication on how Mrs May might be inclined to respond.
It emerged that the Kinloss Army Barracks had been earmarked for closure less than three weeks ago.
And earlier this week, the Press and Journal revealed that Scottish Secretary David Mundell had warned Inverness MP Drew Hendry that it was “likely” more than one base north of the border would be shut.
The message sparked fears that both the Kinloss base and the historic Fort George garrison near Inverness could be in the firing line.
It is understood that a decision on which bases will be closed could be made within the next fortnight.
The UK Government caused outrage in 2010 when it scrapped a new fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft, which were to be homed at RAF Kinloss.
The decision marked the downfall of the site as an airfield, and it closed in the summer of 2011.
Roughly a year later, the 1,828 acre station was transformed into an army barracks.
The facility now employs 700 personnel as part of the 39 Engineer Regiment, and contributes tens of millions of pounds to the Moray economy annually.
Mr Robertson argued that announcing the demise of the base just four years after the soldiers arrived would represent a breach of trust.
He said: “Promises were made by the Conservatives over the basing of army personnel at Kinloss after the untimely ending of the Nimrod programme, and it would be a complete betrayal to go back on those promises just a few years later.
“I have emphasised to the prime minister the level of support in our local communities for our military personnel and their families, and the fact that it would be foolish to ignore the importance of that.
“The strong links between our bases and the local communities is a major strength for both Moray and for the MoD.
“That strength has been built up over many decades with military families making their life here, and settling in to the community as their permanent home.”
The MoD is aiming to reduce its estate across the UK, in an effort to save £500million which will be funnelled into improving defence.
But military chiefs maintain that no decisions have been made on which sites will be wound down to achieve that saving.
