Tory MP threatens resignation over Rosyth

THE maverick Tory MP for Perth and Kinross, Sir Nicholas Fairbairn, warned yesterday that he might resign before the general election if the Government goes ahead with the closure of Rosyth naval base. He told the BBC2 Scottish Lobby programme that closure of the dockyard would be a 'disaster'.

In the present climate, the Government would face almost certain defeat at a by-election in the seat, which the party held with only a 2,094 majority over the Scottish Nationalists at the last general election.