THE CONTROVERSY over Lieutenant-General Sir Alistair’s Irwin multiple roles in proposed infantry reorganisation has no bearing on his decision to stand down as colonel-commandant of the Scottish Division, his office insisted yesterday.

Sir Alistair is adjutant-general, the UK’s second-top soldier but is also colonel of The Black Watch as well as colonel-commandant, effectively chairman of the council of six colonels of Scottish infantry division regiments.

Known as A-G, Sir Alistair has responsibility in the army’s general staff for strategic and long-term thinking including an overhaul of infantry and the regimental system. But he has faced accusations that this role clashes with his position of Black Watch colonel in which he is expected to bat for his regiment.

Sir Alistair’s third role is chairman of the council of Scottish Colonels, the group charged with deciding which of the six infantry regiments will be axed.

Yesterday, Sir Alistair’s spokesman Nick Smith confirmed he will stand down as colonel- commandant on December 31 but said this has “nothing whatsoever” to do with the conflict of interests row.

“He has asked to end his tenure as colonel-commandant on December 31. He is retiring from the army and because he has to be a serving officer to be colonel- commandant he is stepping down,” said Mr Smith. He added that Sir Alistair is to be succeeded as colonel-commandant by Major-General Ewan Loudon of the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

“General Irwin is retiring from the army in late spring next year and is taking the opportunity to hand over a few months early to his successor,” said Mr Smith.

Sir Alistair’s spokesman said he had no information on whether the meeting of Scottish Colonels on October 4, at which the fate of regiments is expected to be decided, will be led by Lord Robertson, former UK Defence Secretary and former NATO Secretary-General.

Last week we revealed that Lord Robertson, formerly Labour MP George Robertson, is favourite to act as an independent arbiter in place of Sir Alistair.