The UK and Scottish Government’s should “pull out all the stops” to secure Prestwick Airport as a horizontal space launch site, according to South Scotland MSP and Scottish Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Colin Smyth.

The comments follow the UK Space Agency’s announcement that Sutherland will be the UK’s first vertical spaceport.

Colin Smyth said, “Given its location near the coast and the massive infrastructure already in place, there is no doubt in my view that Prestwick has the strongest case for designation as the UK’s first horizontal space port. The expansion in demand for satellite launch is an opportunity for Prestwick that would be real boost for the Ayrshire and wider Scottish economy, so it is vital that the UK and Scottish Government’s pull out all the stops to establish a spaceport at Prestwick. The massive challenges facing Prestwick are no secret, so it is vital that new opportunities such as this as pursued vigorously by both Governments to help secure the long term future of what is such an economically and strategically important airport”