BORIS Johnson has seemingly backed down on plans to scrap Fife’s historic Black Watch regiment.
Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister tried to insist that 3 Scots had never been under threat.
Reports earlier this week suggested the battalion was on the brink of being disbanded because of a struggle to fill its ranks.
An MoD source told the Sun: “It makes sense for the battalions most under strength to be rolled into each other. Painful decisions will have to be made.”
The news sparked fury, bringing back painful reminders of the campaign to save the regiments in 2004, when there was a fear that the amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Scotland could lead to the history, and the name of the Black Watch being lost.
READ MORE: Scotland's famous Black Watch regiment faces axe under Tory cuts
In the Commons today, the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford warned Boris Johnson against disbanding the regiment.
He said: "In the SNP, we support a refocusing on the contemporary threats that we face. We need to readjust our defence capabilities for the modern world. It is especially important that a focus is given to issues such as cyber security.
"But what we do not accept is that the priorities of this Government and the threat of the disbanding of historic regiments such as the Black Watch.
"Disbanding the Black Watch would show that the promises made to Scotland during the Scottish independence campaign have been broken, buried and forgotten by this government."
Johnson responded: "I can certainly give (Blackford) that guarantee."
He accused the SNP of spewing out "confected indignation", adding: "Of course we're going to guarantee the Black Watch".
Johnson said: “Of course we’re going to guarantee the Black Watch and that DiFD (the international development department) will remain in East Kilbride, as long as he doesn’t continue with his ambitions to break up the United Kingdom."
He added: “It is preposterous to listen to the Scottish National Party talking about their desire to support defence when everybody knows fine well that it is thanks to the UK-wide investment that we’re able to deliver not just the Black Watch and DfID in East Kilbride, but a fantastic programme of shipbuilding in Govan and Rosyth.”
READ MORE: David Pratt: Why the future of the Black Watch matters to Scotland
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross tried to take credit for the decision.
He said: “I called for reassurances that the future of the Black Watch would be safe and secure for years to come and I’m delighted that we now have that confirmation.
“The UK Government’s £16.5 billion boost to the armed forces will deliver real benefits to Scottish shipbuilding and the thousands of service personnel based across Scotland.
“The Black Watch plays a vital role in our armed forces and is a real symbol of our shared history, so it’s very welcome that its future is secured beyond doubt."
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