SNP seeks Westminster debate over regimental merger move

MINISTERS are facing demands to come before the House of Commons to explain their decisions over merging two Scottish regimental names as part of their defence cuts.

Following revelations in The Scotsman yesterday that the names of the Black Watch and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders are to be brought together, SNP Perth MP Pete Wishart is pressing for a debate. The changes are part of 20,000 cuts to regular army numbers, which will see battalions removed from regiments across the UK, including the Fifth Scots, currently the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The name will be added to the Black Watch battalion in a bid to see off protests over the loss of a famous Scottish military name.

Mr Wishart, whose constituency contains the historic home of the Black Watch, said: “This would be disgraceful betrayal of the Black Watch by the UK government, and ministers must abandon any plans to further compromise the identity of our historic units.

“It is clear that proposals to merge the names are just a cack-handed attempt to mask MoD cuts to the army in Scotland.”