Highland MP Graham Leadbitter has called on the UK Government to strengthen its military aerial firefighting capability following the recent wildfire that burned across parts of the Cairngorms National Park.

In a letter to the new Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, Mr Leadbitter said he was concerned to learn that requests from the Scottish Government for waterbombing helicopters could not be met because the UK military had no available aerial firefighting capability.

The MP, whose constituency includes the Cairngorms National Park, believes lessons must now be learned from the incident and has urged the UK Government to engage with the Scottish Government’s recently announced review of its wildfire strategy.

Writing to the Defence Secretary, Mr Leadbitter highlighted the importance of adapting the UK’s domestic capabilities alongside its military preparedness.

The letter reads:

“Dear Wes, 

Congratulations on your appointment to the role of Defence Secretary. My constituency is home to three strategically crucial military bases – Fort George, Kinloss Barracks, and RAF Lossiemouth, so I look forward to working constructively with you and your team to secure better conditions for our military personnel and an uplift in defence spending.

On increased defence spending, it’s absolutely clear that we need to adapt our capabilities to be able to best tackle the foreign threats we face from the likes of Russia, but what’s been made abundantly clear in my constituency recently is that we need to bolster our domestic defence capability to protect from a new type of threat.

I was deeply concerned that the UK had no waterbombing helicopters available in its fleet to support the firefighting efforts in the Cairngorms recently. These types of aircraft would’ve delivered game-changing support in a firefighting effort that lasted weeks and saw a significant area of the Cairngorms National Park burn.

As the effects of the climate crisis get closer and closer to home it’s important we step up our domestic defence capabilities to ensure we can protect our communities from environmental threats just as well as we can from military threats.

I know this government will want to closely examine our existing capabilities, and I would be grateful if you would consider the procurement of more firefighting helicopters and aircraft.

There are many lessons to be learned from this wildfire from both governments. I’m grateful that the Scottish Government has announced a review into our wildfire strategy, one I hope the UK government will engage constructively in and take on board the proposals and suggestions that come from it.

I’m happy to meet to discuss this, and the wide-range of matters that are of importance to the defence personnel and veterans living in my constituency at any time.”

Mr Leadbitter also offered to meet the Defence Secretary to discuss the proposal, along with wider issues affecting defence personnel and veterans living across his constituency.