Blair tight-lipped on Black Watch future
The Prime Minister today refused to confirm reports that the Black Watch and other Scottish regiments will be saved under new restructuring proposals.
He told the House of Commons that a decision on the future of the regiment rested with the army.
Reports in some Scottish newspapers this morning said Mr Blair had performed a U-turn on plans to downgrade the regiments – including the Black Watch – into battalions in a single Scottish unit.
Responding to a question from Mohammad Sarwar during Prime Minister’s question time, Mr Blair told the House: “No final decision on the future structure of Scottish regiments has yet been made.”
Conservative leader Michael Howard pressed Mr Blair on the issue, calling the Government’s handling of it a “complete shambles”. He claimed the Defence Secretary was saying that the regiments would be abolished, whilst the Prime Minister was briefing Scottish newpapers that the regiments would be saved.
“Doesn’t the Prime Minister understand how shameful it is to treat the Black Watch and their families in this way at a time when they face such great danger in Iraq?” Mr Howard said.
Mr Blair replied that the army had to make the decision and stressed that no one had announced the regiments would be abolished. He said Mr Howard was “completely wrong” and dismissed his questions as “shabby opportunism”.
Earlier today, Falkirk West MP Eric Joyce told politics.co.uk he was “optimistic” that his proposals to save the Black Watch regiment were being listened to.
Mr Joyce’s plans would see the regiments come under one Scottish division, but maintain their regimental identity. The Black Watch would be preserved along with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Highlanders and the Argyll and Southern Highlanders.
A final decision from the Ministry of Defence is expected by the end of November.
