SNP to press UK Government on historic regiments

THE UK Government will be pressed for a clear answer on regimental cap badges, including the famous Red Hackle worn by The Black Watch, after the SNP secured a debate on the matter in Westminster.

The thorny issue came to light last week when Downing Street made an apparent U-turn to scrap the name of The Black Watch, replacing it merely with 3 Scots.

The move had been mooted by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, but a source at Number 10 stressed there will be no change to the name of the f amous f ighting regiment.

The SNP are demanding answers on the matter, and Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, has sponsored Wednesday’s Westminster debate on the future of Scottish recruited units

Despite last week’s change of hear t, he said questions must be answered.

“Given the disproportionate personnel cuts and the defence underspend that Scotland has already endured, this is just as much an issue about boots on the ground as it is about traditions and identity,” he said.

“As the Ministry of Defence (MOD) have just confirmed, less than 3% of regular army units are now stationed in Scotland – that is just four of 148 major regular army units.

“The UK Government is creating enormous uncertainty for our defence communities, and Mr Hammond must come to parliament and make clear what his intentions are.” He continued: “After promising to reinstate Scotland’s historic regiments, the Tories are now running down our armed forces even more.”

SNP We s t m i n s t e r leader and defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said: “We must have clear unequivocal answers from the MOD over the future of the UK Government’s commitment to a defence footprint in Scotland.

“Which means capabilities as well as cap badges.”