The Glenrothes By-election 2008

'I believe Glenrothes voters who have strong connections with the Black Watch will exact revenge on a duplicitous, lying Labour Party.' Jeff Duncan in the Herald, 5 th September 2008.

Regiments campaign considers by-election challenge

By Ian Bruce, Defence Correspondent in the Herald 5 th September 2008

The organisation still fighting for the reinstatement of Scotland's historic infantry regiments could put a candidate up against Labour in the Glenrothes by-election.

Two local ex-soldiers are understood to have volunteered to stand, campaigning under the banner of "Real Labour for the Black Watch" in the Fife heartland of the battalion to embarrass the Westminster government and draw off support for the official Labour candidate.

Confirming that an application had been lodged with the Electoral Commission to stand at the by-election, Jeff Duncan, the organiser of the long-running Campaign to Reinstate the Scottish Regiments, said yesterday that he had written to the four main political parties' candidates to ask about their attitude on the issue.

Mr Duncan, who headed the Save the Scottish Regiments battle before the forced amalgamation of the Royal Scots, King's Own Scottish Borderers, Royal Highland Fusiliers, Argylls, Black Watch and the Highlanders into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006, said yesterday that the candidates' response would determine whether an alternative challenge was mounted.

Each of the official candidates has been asked: "If elected to serve Glenrothes at Westminster, will you raise the issue of the loss of identity of the Black Watch and the other former Scottish regiments while supporting the campaign's aim for reinstatement of the Scottish regiments and their former identities?"

Campaigners believe that the identity and recruiting potential of the Black Watch has been diluted and eroded since it became one of five battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland rather than a regiment in its own right.

"Clearly, the commitments and promises that have been made by the Army and the Ministry of Defence to retain the identity of the Black Watch are no more than a sop," Mr Duncan said. "Even the regiment's world-famous Red Hackle - a global brand emblem if ever there was one - has been relegated in favour of RRS uniformity.

"This is an opportunity for the Glenrothes electorate to say to the Westminster government that they have not forgotten the Black Watch. Fife is a very tribal area with a fierce loyalty to its soldiers. People do not feel the Black Watch has an identity any more and that needs to be addressed."

Mr Duncan said that before the announcement of mergers and amalgamations the Black Watch was the best-recruited regiment in the Scottish Division, just six men short of its complement of required manning. The latest figures show a shortfall of 65.

The Scottish Labour Party insisted the promises made at the time of amalgamation have been honoured. "The changes to the Scottish regiments were made by the Army for strong operational reasons and they have been widely welcomed by serving soldiers," a spokesman said.