THE CREATION of the Scottish Division is only the start of a plan to deconstruct Scotland’s military identity, it was claimed by campaigners yesterday.

If The Black Watch is merged into an enlarged regiment, its historic identity will be lost within five years, said Save the Scottish Regiments co-ordinator Jeff Duncan.

“The notion that cap badges and names can be kept in a single regiment is nonsensical,” he said. “Once merged, the single regiments have lost their identity and the right to operate as individual regiments. It is like, for example, when two banks merge—for a while the joint name is used and soon after the dominant half’s name is used only.

“Make no mistake, The Black Watch will cease to exist as we know it within five years if they become merged into a large, faceless Scottish Division. Once this is allowed to happen, the MoD can strip and cut any sections as it sees fit. It will be too late by then to resist any subsequent cuts.

“Most people believe this is only the beginning of plans to radically deconstruct Scotland’s military identity.”

He called for the Government to carry out a full consultation exercise to allow the British people their say on military cutbacks and accused ministers of rushing through poorly thought-out reforms that he said will damage the country in the long term.

“As it now looks increasingly unlikely that Labour and Geoff Hoon will shift position and instead will force through their plans by mid- autumn, our campaign is in the stages of finalising candidates for marginal seats in Scotland.

“Where Labour risk losing a seat or hope to gain one, our campaign will redouble its efforts until the General Election to remind voters of how this Labour Government has stabbed in the back those loyal Scottish soldiers who have fought so bravely over the years—at the instruction of the department that seeks to punish rather than reward those soldiers.

“Our campaign feels the Scottish electorate will make their feelings known in a decisive way at the ballot box. Labour will be reminded of their treachery.”