By Steve Bargeton, political editor

SAVE THE Scottish regiments campaigners are to field a candidate against Chancellor Gordon Brown at the General Election.

Former nurse Anne McMillan (43), whose father served in The Black Watch, will challenge Mr Brown in the new seat of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

The campaigners have already put up a candidate against Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram in East Kilbride and are supporting parties in opposition to Labour in nine other seats.

They have endorsed opposition candidates in an attempt to unseat Labour in Dundee East, Dundee West, Ochil and South Perthshire, Aberdeen South, Dumfriesshire, South West Edinburgh, Stirling, East Renfrewshire and Western Isles.

At the end of last year the Government announced that two of Scotland’s regiments, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Scots, are to be merged to join the remaining four in the new Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Although Mr Brown has remained silent on the issue the Save the Scottish Regiments campaign claim he was behind the demand for financial savings in the Ministry of Defence which have led to the restructuring of the infantry.

“Gordon Brown is responsible for forcing army chiefs to make defence cuts due to his penny-pinching,” said Ms McMillan yesterday.

“I intend to make the electorate of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath aware of Gordon Brown’s part in the intended demise of Scottish regiments.”

She said she would also campaign on health issues.

Last night SNP leader Alex Salmond said, “People feel betrayed by this Government and their treatment of Scotland’s historic regiments.

“It is a disgrace that this Government sent our troops into the line of fire in Iraq and then betrayed them at home. That makes people angry.

“The Labour party have let down our regiments and the communities they serve.

“They will pay a high price at the ballot box at the forthcoming election for what they have done.”