By Chris Ferguson

THE CAMPAIGN to save The Black Watch and Scotland’s threatened regiments will be stepped up after a Government snub yesterday.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon faced Scottish MPs in the Commons—but refused to offer a single concession.

North Tayside MP Pete Wishart, who led the debate, said afterwards that now is the time for the public to start putting pressure on their MPs to save the regiments.

The appearance of the defence secretary at Mr Wishart’s member’s debate brought hopes of a rethink or some form of retreat from the cutting and merging of historic Scottish regiments.

But Mr Hoon stuck to the Ministry of Defence line, offering, Mr Wishart said, little more than cold comfort despite cross-party unity among MPs.

The Defence Secretary said he intends to press ahead and disband four infantry battalions, one of them north of the border.

Mr Hoon faced Mr Wishart and his SNP colleagues, a large number of Labour MPs, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell and Tories including former armed forces minister Nicholas Soames.

Dundee West MP Ernie Ross joined his parliamentary colleagues in the chamber.

Mr Wishart said that he appreciated the high-calibre contributions made in defence of the regiments by Scottish MPs of all parties.

In the debate, Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said, “Whatever the rights and wrongs of the secretary of state’s proposals, there is something deeply unpleasant, indeed unacceptable, in effectively eliminating regiments when they’re in the line of fire into which the prime minister has placed them in Iraq.”

Dunfermline Labour MP Rachel Squire accused the government of striking at the heart of Scottish communities.

She said, “That government proposal, particularly linked as it is to the removal of four regiments, is seen by service personnel, families and communities as, bluntly, an act of disloyal backstabbing.”

Mr Hoon insisted regiments could retain their badges and incorporate historic names into new titles, as well as continuing to recruit from their traditional areas.

He told the House of Commons defence select committee that the amalgamation of several regiments into regionally-based formations could allow them to develop closer links with home communities than the present system, known as “arms plotting,” under which they are moved every few years.

And the defence secretary hinted regiments finding it difficult to recruit were likely to be “more vulnerable” to disbandment—but said no decisions had yet been made.

Mr Hoon said, “I see no reason, for example—should the army board choose to recommend it —why in Scotland the existing regimental name shouldn’t be bracketed after whatever title is given the Scottish division.

“The Black Watch could continue as a particular battalion within that larger Scottish structure. That seems to me to preserve both their past and their identity. They could recruit from the same areas.

“Indeed, one thing that has been seriously overlooked in these proposals is that by basing the army more consistently in one area we will add to its local connection, not take away from it.”

Responding to concerns expressed by Tory MP Crispin Blunt about community and historical links, Mr Hoon said, “I accept that, particularly amongst those who have served in those regiments in the past and who tend to be resident in a particular county, there is concern.

“But, as far as those who are serving now are concerned, it seems to me there are overwhelming advantages to what we are proposing, without any loss of identity.”

The changes would make the army more flexible and more ready to respond to 21st-century dangers.

After attending the debate, North East Fife Liberal Democrat MP Sir Menzies Campbell said Mr Hoon made a good case for reform of the army, but no case for the reduction in regiments.

“This should not be an issue of sentiment but one of capability,” he said. “The Black Watch has the skill and professionalism which may well be needed both in the short term and in the long term.”

After the debate, Mr Wishart said, “Regardless of our views as MPs, he seems to have taken no recognition of the huge public campaign to save the regiments.”

He added, “We thought at least he would have been minded to make some concessions. Now we have to focus on the rally in Dundee on October 23 and we will be beginning to encourage the public to ask their members of parliament for a view on this crucial issue.”

Perth MP Annabelle Ewing was angered that Mr Hoon had ignored the strength of public feeling in Tayside and Fife.

“There has been a massive campaign across Tayside and Fife to save The Black Watch and this has been replicated across Scotland for the other regiments. The Defence Secretary came along to the debate today, but he did not listen.”

She added, “I took the opportunity of reading out in the debate several of their comments, including from a Black Watch officer currently in Basra who said, ‘while we wish to look after our country, our country seems less keen to look after us.’ ”

Outside the House before the debate, Jeff Duncan and members of London branch of The Black Watch Association lobbied Scottish MPs.