The fight to save The Black Watch will be taken to the streets of London next year.

After the success of Saturday’s Edinburgh rally, where over 2000 people marched in protest against the merger of Scotland’s six historic regiments, the Save The Scottish Regiments Campaign has announced plans for a rally in London in spring.

They also hope to join forces with protestors campaigning to save English regiments affected by the planned cuts.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon last week announced a cut in the number of UK infantry battalions from 40 to 36. In Scotland, the Royal Scots and the King’s Own Scottish Borderers will become one battalion alongside The Black Watch, Royal Highland Fusiliers, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Highlanders in the new Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Rally organisers intend to charter trains to London for the March or April event and vow to continue their campaign until the next general election.

Save The Scottish Regiments intends to field candidates against Labour MPs in the next election and plans a drive to ensure more serving soldiers are registered to vote in the election.

A spokesman said, “An alarming number of serving soldiers are not properly registered to vote and an initiative to ensure as many as possible are registered will commence on January 1. Part of that initiative will be to direct as many as possible to vote tactically against Labour to ensure maximum damage to its prospects in Scotland, especially in marginal seats.”

The army’s chief of staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, said at the weekend it was vital to reorganise the army to guarantee its future effectiveness.