SOUTH NORFOLK MP Richard Bacon is supporting the 'Make it Marham' campaign, which is lobbying the Government to keep the Royal Air Force's Tornado fleet based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

Mr Bacon said: “There are very strong arguments for keeping the RAF’s Tornados at Marham. 

“RAF Marham has already had huge investment in its infrastructure. The ‘depth maintenance’ facility provided by BAe Systems and Rolls Royce is extremely specialised and could only be moved elsewhere at massive cost.   RAF Marham is also superbly placed strategically so that, for example, Tornados from Marham can reach the RAF's forward base on Cyprus without refuelling.

“Removing the Tornado fleet from Marham would be very damaging to the surrounding area.   The station provides employment for 3,600 RAF and MoD personnel, as well as 1,220 contract staff and 350 other civilians, and it would be very painful for the local economy if this key source of employment and training were removed.

"The base at RAF Marham is very important to Britain's defence capabilities and to Norfolk's economy, and I urge the Government to Make It Marham”.

20 October 2010