September 28, 2018 1.12 pm This story is over 66 months old

Theresa May makes no promise to keep Red Arrows in Lincolnshire

Will the Red Arrows remain in Lincolnshire?

The Prime Minister Theresa May said people will “have to wait and see” whether or not the Red Arrows will stay in Lincolnshire after the base at RAF Scampton closes.

As previously reported the base, which is currently home to the Red Arrows and 600 members of staff, will close by 2022 after the Ministry of Defence confirmed it would be sold off.

In an interview with BBC reporter Tim Iredale Theresa May said: “Significant consideration was given to the issue of RAF Scampton.

“It’s part of a wider process of looking at the military estate and crucially it’s about ensuring that, actually, we can provide better for our armed forces personnel and their families, that personnel aren’t having to make so many long journeys between bases.

“So obviously there will be a new home for the Red Arrows but as we release certain parts of the estate it’s going to be possible to put that money into the military and particularly into things like accommodation for families.”

When asked if the Red Arrows would remain in Lincolnshire she added: “You’ll have to wait and see where the new home’s going to be.”

Theresa May and the future of the Red Arrows

Will the Red Arrows stay in Lincolnshire?"You'll have to wait and see" says the Prime Minister.

Posted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire on Friday, 28 September 2018

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also previously spoke about the future of Scampton and the Red Arrows to the BBC, saying the “Red Arrows do a fantastic job, fantastically entertaining. Let’s keep them there.”

Lincoln MP Karen Lee also gave her backing to the Red Arrows when she took to the streets of the city in July and set up a campaign aimed at convincing the MoD to reconsider the sale of RAF Scampton.