This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19991463

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Veterans protest at battalion cut MPs urge battalion cut re-think
(about 4 hours later)
More than 400 veterans have marched in protest at the axing of a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. MPs have backed a motion calling for the government to reconsider its decision to axe the Second Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF).
The Second Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, is to be disbanded in 2014, but MPs want the government to reconsider. A Commons motion by MP John Baron asking for the cut to be reversed was supported by 57 votes to three.
They have accused it of cutting the English battalion as a "political fix" to avoid scrapping Scottish battalions ahead of the Scottish referendum. Earlier, more than 400 regiment veterans marched along Whitehall in protest at the axing of the battalion.
The Army said it considered several criteria in deciding the cuts. The 2RRF is to be disbanded in 2014, as part of wider Army cuts involving a further three infantry battalions.
The four infantry battalions are being abolished and one is being downgraded under the government's plans to reduce the size of the Army by a fifth.
The plans, announced in July, will see the Army reduced by 20,000 regular soldiers by 2020.
Although the motion was passed, it will not be binding on the government.
MPs accused the government of cutting 2RRF, an English battalion, as a "political fix" to avoid scrapping Scottish battalions ahead of the Scottish referendum.
The protesters wore their regimental berets and badges as they marched along Whitehall to Parliament, where a rally was held.The protesters wore their regimental berets and badges as they marched along Whitehall to Parliament, where a rally was held.
Serving soldiers were not allowed to take part. A former colonel said the march was the first of its kind since the days of Cromwell.Serving soldiers were not allowed to take part. A former colonel said the march was the first of its kind since the days of Cromwell.
The government announced in July that the Army will lose 17 major units as it cuts 20,000 regular soldiers by 2020.
Four infantry battalions are being abolished and one is being downgraded under the government's plans to reduce the size of the Army by a fifth.
'Big mistakes''Big mistakes'
Dozens of MPs from all three main parties have tabled a motion asking for the government to reconsider disbanding the Second Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF). Conservative MP John Baron, who served in the regiment himself, told the Commons after the march as many veterans looked on from the public gallery: "The government is wrong. Military logic and not political calculation should determine Army cuts.
Conservative MP John Baron, who served in the regiment himself and will lead the debate in the Commons later, said: "I'm hoping to get the government to think again. "I'm a firm believer in the Union but this is not the way to achieve it. In my view, the government's culpability is demonstrated by its reluctance to justify its decision."
"These Army cuts are a big mistake but if there are to be cuts then military logic should prevail. Earlier he had said: "Government interference to save poorly recruited Scottish battalions smacks of a political fix in the lead-up to the Scottish referendum."
"Government interference to save poorly recruited Scottish battalions smacks of a political fix in the lead-up to the Scottish referendum."
The referendum on independence for Scotland is due to be held in autumn 2014.The referendum on independence for Scotland is due to be held in autumn 2014.
The MPs claim that 2RRF was earmarked for disbandment after the government changed its criteria for cuts so that only one battalion from each regiment could be axed, with no loss of historic cap badges.The MPs claim that 2RRF was earmarked for disbandment after the government changed its criteria for cuts so that only one battalion from each regiment could be axed, with no loss of historic cap badges.
The MPs say this has resulted in "more poorly recruited Scottish battalions being saved".The MPs say this has resulted in "more poorly recruited Scottish battalions being saved".
Mr Baron said he believed 2RRF had both a strong recruitment record and encouraging demographics in its home areas.
Tory MP Gerald Howarth, who was until last month a minister at the Ministry of Defence, said: "As a defence minister who came in in 2010, I and my colleagues found it extremely painful to have to make these very difficult decisions.
"But one of the reasons we did so is because we inherited a budget deficit of £156bn and therefore to retain the confidence of the international capital markets, something had to be done.
"But can I say, I share a belief there is an alternative. I never said in government there is no alternative: there is an alternative.
"That is to reprioritise government spending. My view is we cannot justify spending ever more taxpayer's money on overseas aid and cutting our Armed Forces."
Army recommendationsArmy recommendations
If the motion is passed it will not be binding on the government.
An Army spokesman responded to the MPs' claims, saying: "To suggest decisions were taken on recruitment performance alone is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Army's process.An Army spokesman responded to the MPs' claims, saying: "To suggest decisions were taken on recruitment performance alone is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Army's process.
"The Army took account of a number of criteria to determine which infantry battalions would be withdrawn under Army 2020."The Army took account of a number of criteria to determine which infantry battalions would be withdrawn under Army 2020.
"These included a balance across the broader infantry structure and the capability roles within it; demographic sustainability of regiments according to projected regional supply of recruits; and taking account of previous decisions on mergers and deletions."These included a balance across the broader infantry structure and the capability roles within it; demographic sustainability of regiments according to projected regional supply of recruits; and taking account of previous decisions on mergers and deletions.
"The Army also considered proportionality of outcome, with no cap badge deletions and no regiment losing more than one battalion in a reorganisation, when recommending to ministers which infantry battalions would be withdrawn.""The Army also considered proportionality of outcome, with no cap badge deletions and no regiment losing more than one battalion in a reorganisation, when recommending to ministers which infantry battalions would be withdrawn."