Cunningham distances herself from colleague's army comments
Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham has distanced herself from claims by a colleague that the army is targeting youngsters in her constituency in an effort to secure future recruits.
Roseanna Cunningham.
- By Richard Burdge
- Published in the Courier : 15.07.10
- Published online : 15.07.10 @ 10.11am
South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame accused the Ministry of Defence of a "campaign of deception" over direct approaches to schools in Perth and Kinross for visits aimed at "softening up pupils" for recruitment when they reach 16 — categorically denied by the army.
Other SNP politicians, Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart and North Tayside MSP John Swinney, declined to comment on Ms Grahame's accusations.
Ms Cunningham, however, does not consider it an issue.
She said, "I've had no complaints from parents locally and wouldn't expect to, given the strong local links with The Black Watch."
Ms Grahame went on the attack on Wednesday, saying, "The Ministry of Defence have claimed in recent years that they 'never' go into schools unless invited to do so by a teacher.
"Documents I have obtained from local authorities directly show that this is not always the case and raises further questions over the real purpose and intent of the army's efforts in schools across Scotland."
She added, "The MoD said that access is only ever allowed following invitation, but as I have demonstrated there is simply no paper trail and no evidence to support that claim as I had suspected.
"Previously I was able to demonstrate that the army was deliberately targeting children from deprived communities in a cynical attempt to boost their flagging recruitment levels.
"These latest documents show that not only is the recruitment strategy aimed at children in primary schools, but that representatives of the armed forces are now routinely going into nursery schools, too."
Ms Grahame called on the umbrella council organisation CoSLA to issue new guidance to local authorities aimed at prohibiting such visits.
Rejected
Brigadier George Lowder, commander 51 Brigade, rejected Ms Grahame's claims but said he would be more than happy to investigate.
He said, "We simply do not recruit in schools — primary or secondary. The army is part of society and an important public service, and therefore supports school activities when invited and welcomed to do so by head teachers and their staff.
"This is done in support of the curriculum and similar contributions are made by police, fire, ambulance, emergency and other services and professions from every walk of life.
"The army gets numerous informal and official requests from schools every year and gets no special treatment or access, but neither should it be excluded or discriminated against.
"It is a fine and honourable thing to be a Scottish soldier and we have a duty to explain to Scottish children who we are and what we do to protect our nation, and pass on valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork and citizenship."
He added, "Many of our people are parents and support their local school in all sorts of extra-curricular ways, myself included.
"This is not recruiting — far from it — but if MSPs have specific complaints or evidence they are concerned about I am very happy to look into them."
12.15pm - 15.07.2010 Jim Johnston - Perth, Scotland Report This
www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/02/british-army-recruitment-iraq The above link with direct quotes from the British army demonstrates they are targetting school children. I am a constituent of Ms Cunningham's and I dont want my kids recruited for illegal foreign wars.
04.29pm - 15.07.2010 James Silvano - Dunkeld, Scotland Report This
Weren't the Black Watch raised as a regiment to suppress the Scottish highland clans on behalf of the British state? Don't these soldiers sign up for Queen and Country? Why would a natonalist party and a supposed republican MSP be defending such a British regiment?
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