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From the Scotsman, 25 November 2004
MILITARY chiefs last night sealed the fate of Scotland's historic army regiments, including the Black Watch, and insisted that Tony Blair must carry the blame for the public anger that will follow.
The bleak news emerged barely hours after the men of the Black Watch, one of the regiments facing merger, once again risked their lives storming a key insurgent stronghold in Iraq's "Triangle of Death".
Before the operation, Lieutenant-Colonel James Cowan, the regiment's commanding officer, warned his men: "This may be the last attack for the First Battalion the Black Watch."
Despite campaigners' hopes that the Black Watch and the other five Scottish infantry regiments could be saved from being merged into a five-battalion "super-regiment", senior defence sources in London yesterday confirmed that the plan will go ahead. And making a mockery of the Prime Minister's claims that he would listen to Scottish public opinion over the plans, it was confirmed that the army's most senior officers have already decided Scotland's regiments, including the Black Watch, cannot continue to exist as independent fighting units.
"The Army Board has decided we can no longer have single- battalion regiments," said one source. The military chiefs have also rejected a compromise proposal, endorsed by Mr Blair, that would have allowed the Scots units to keep their regimental status.
The Scottish National Party last night accused ministers of betraying Scottish soldiers, and regimental campaigners announced plans for a major demonstration in central Edinburgh next month.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the merger plans are "being led by the army", but that was dismissed by a senior defence source last night.
"The final decision does rest with him," said the source. "Of course he's got a big political problem, but it's not up to us to solve that for him."
The abolition of one Scottish regiment - through the merger of the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers - is part of a cut of four battalions from the British Army. That, military chiefs say, is down to ministers cutting the defence budget - undermining government claims that the restructuring has nothing to do with money.
"If he wants to get out of this, he knows what he has to do: give us more resources," said the source.
The full Army Board will meet to confirm its decision on 6 December, and Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, will announce the outcome to Parliament during the week starting 13 December. The timing reflects ministers' unwillingness to announce the plans while the Black Watch are still on their high-risk deployment, which is due to end next week.
MILITARY chiefs last night sealed the fate of Scotland's historic army regiments, including the Black Watch, and insisted that Tony Blair must carry the blame for the public anger that will follow.
The bleak news emerged barely hours after the men of the Black Watch, one of the regiments facing merger, once again risked their lives storming a key insurgent stronghold in Iraq's "Triangle of Death".
Before the operation, Lieutenant-Colonel James Cowan, the regiment's commanding officer, warned his men: "This may be the last attack for the First Battalion the Black Watch."
Despite campaigners' hopes that the Black Watch and the other five Scottish infantry regiments could be saved from being merged into a five-battalion "super-regiment", senior defence sources in London yesterday confirmed that the plan will go ahead. And making a mockery of the Prime Minister's claims that he would listen to Scottish public opinion over the plans, it was confirmed that the army's most senior officers have already decided Scotland's regiments, including the Black Watch, cannot continue to exist as independent fighting units.
"The Army Board has decided we can no longer have single- battalion regiments," said one source. The military chiefs have also rejected a compromise proposal, endorsed by Mr Blair, that would have allowed the Scots units to keep their regimental status.
The Scottish National Party last night accused ministers of betraying Scottish soldiers, and regimental campaigners announced plans for a major demonstration in central Edinburgh next month.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the merger plans are "being led by the army", but that was dismissed by a senior defence source last night.
"The final decision does rest with him," said the source. "Of course he's got a big political problem, but it's not up to us to solve that for him."
The abolition of one Scottish regiment - through the merger of the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers - is part of a cut of four battalions from the British Army. That, military chiefs say, is down to ministers cutting the defence budget - undermining government claims that the restructuring has nothing to do with money.
"If he wants to get out of this, he knows what he has to do: give us more resources," said the source.
The full Army Board will meet to confirm its decision on 6 December, and Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, will announce the outcome to Parliament during the week starting 13 December. The timing reflects ministers' unwillingness to announce the plans while the Black Watch are still on their high-risk deployment, which is due to end next week.
As a former member of the 1st.Bn.Black Watch Canada I am saddened this day to hear the news of the Black Watch.I hope something can be done to stop this.
