Darling: Any reduction will be based on sound defences

Alistair Darling has refused to say whether the government will save historic Scottish regiments.

During a session of Scottish questions in the Commons the Cabinet minister refused to respond to appeals for the retention of regiments such as the Black Watch.

Scores of MPs, including Labour backbenchers and members of opposition, are warning the government parties have spoken out strongly against the proposed cull.

Darling dismissed the SNP, insisting that any move towards a "super regiment" would be based on operational and not financial considerations.

"The British Army has a lot of traditions and there's a strong tradition of Scottish regiments being part of the British Army. If you were in power there would not be a British Army in the first place," he said.

Refusal

But speaking after the debate the SNP's Annabelle Ewing MP said: "On this St Andrew’s Day, we made an appeal to the secretary of state for Scotland to undertake a commitment to the House of Commons to intervene to save Scotland’s historic regiments. He refused.

"The people of Scotland will be shocked and horrified by the refusal of the Secretary of State to do all he can to save our regiments.

He is not Scotland’s representative in Cabinet, he is Blair’s principal apologist in Scotland and yet again he has let the people of Scotland down.

"Darling’s failure to back the regiments will not be forgiven. Scotland’s regiments have served with distinction. They deserve better, the fight to save Scotland’s historic regiments goes on."

During the Commons confrontation Labour MPs also appealed on the government to think again on the cull.

Former minister Gavin Strang said UK forces were currently over-stretched in areas such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Will you accept that this may not be the right time to be asking our military chiefs to plan a cut in the number of infantry battle troops available to us in the future," he said.

Responding the Scotland secretary told MPs: "This argument is being driven by what is necessary to the army for operational reasons, it isn't financial."