DUNDEE WEST MP Ernie Ross this week snubbed a Commons motion defending The Black Watch put before the house by Central Fife Labour MP John MacDougall, but supported a veiled call for British troops to head a terrorist crackdown in Bangladesh.

He also he found time to sign a motion welcoming the advancement of gay rights, the appointment of the first black female judge to the English bench and one expressing concern about possible job losses at a transformer factory in Leith.

In addition he backed Burnley MP Peter Pike’s bid for the building of a Nelson Mandela statue in Trafalgar Square, London.

The early day motions signed by Mr Ross were among several put before the House on Tuesday, the day we asked Mr Ross for an interview about his petition on regimental reform.

Despite mounting criticism, Mr Ross, who voted to send troops into Iraq, has still not made any public statement on where he stands on regimental reform.

He is, however, keen for a resolution to unrest in Bangladesh and backed Northampton MP Sally Keeble’s early day motion calling for the Government to “offer such assistance and co-operation as may be necessary to help combat terrorism, and to promote, assist and reinforce rule of law.”

Ms Keeble’s motion does not make it clear whether she supports the deployment of British troops to Bangladesh.

By contrast, Dundee East Labour MP Iain Luke was the first MP to sign Mr MacDougall’s early day motion, on September 7.

Mr MacDougall’s motion calls on the House of Commons to recognise the immense contribution that the Scottish regiments have made to the British Army over the last four centuries and the continuing need to ensure that the force is deployed effectively in order for the UK to continue to play its part in securing peace and democracy across the globe.

It adds that the proposals to reduce the strength of the army from 40 to 36 battalions may hamper the forces’ ability to fulfil operational requirements and will have an adverse effect on the morale of regiments, including The Black Watch, currently undertaking a difficult tour of duty in Iraq.

The motion “calls on the Government to rethink the proposals for the reduction in strength of the British Army, to retain all six Scottish infantry regiments and to do all it can to promote and encourage recruitment to both regular and territorial units of the army throughout the UK.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ross endorsed the early day motion by Mr Turner which welcomes the introduction of the Civil Partnership Bill recognising same-sex marriage.

It also calls for additional legislation giving same-sex couples the same pension rights as married couples.

Mr Ross also congratulated lawyer Linda Dobbs on her appointment as the first black female judge to the English High Court bench.

He was also alarmed at the threat to 250 workers at the VA Tech Peebles Transformers factory in Leith and supported the campaign to save the plant.