By Chris Ferguson

UNDER-FIRE Dundee West MP Ernie Ross yesterday broke his silence on the threat to The Black Watch.

He said he is reserving his position on regimental reform until senior army officers bring forward their full proposals.

At that point, said the MP, he will study the findings to see if they meet with his criteria.

Mr Ross said, “The review of the armed forces is being carried out by the armed forces.

“I have been doing my job as an MP and forwarding the concerns of people who have contacted me to ensure that these are taken into account when everything comes to a conclusion.

“When the report is published, my job is to look at that report and see if it satisfies concerns; if not, it will then be a case of seeing if it can be changed.

“The people who have contacted me were serving soldiers other than that character Duncan (Jeff Duncan of Save The Scottish Regiments).

“He said to the person who took the call that if we didn’t support his campaign he would tell people not to vote for me. If people do that, they are wasting their time.

“Clearly, The Black Watch plays a significant part in Tayside families’ lives, there is no way you can get away from that,” he added.

“The people of Tayside want to preserve the best of traditions and I have no problem supporting that.”

The MP added that he had not made a public statement on the regiment, unlike many other politicians, because no one had asked him.

He said, “No one had asked me until your call on Tuesday. Had someone asked me, I would have responded. I’m not a rent-a-quote MP.”

Meanwhile, retired Major R. Boylen, of Broughty Ferry, said The Black Watch and other threatened Scottish regiments deserve the full support of all elected politicians.

He warned that MPs and MSPs who have done nothing to defend the regiment should consider quitting politics rather than seeking re-election.

Major Boylen said, “The regiment and their families deserve, and are entitled to, the support of all councillors, MSPs and MPs in the fight to save The Black Watch.

“Anything less than full backing from these elected officials would be a despicable act of betrayal.

“The Black Watch motto is ‘nemo me impune lacessit’, which translates as, ‘touch me not with impunity,’ or the more popular, ‘wha’ daur meddle wi’ me.’ ”

The retired officer added, “Those politicians who think that silence, or doing nothing, will be enough should perhaps consider a career change before the next election.

“They may think that they have seen the public with hackles raised before, but it is something else to deal with when the Red Hackles are raised.”