City joins fight to save regiment

Supporters made speeches at the Queen Victoria monument

Supporters of the King's Regiment have marched on the streets of Liverpool to protest at government plans to merge the regiment.

The unit, which draws recruits from the city, will be merged with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and Cumbrian-based King's Own Royal Border Regiments.

The rally started at St George's Hall and included a service, parade and speeches at the Victoria Monument.

The chair of Save The King's Regiment has accused the government of betrayal.

The regiment draws most of its recruits from Liverpool

The government announced in December that the three regiments would be cut to form two battalions in the new King's Lancashire and Border Regiment.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said then he understood the importance of regimental traditions but the changes needed to be seen in the wider context of "re-balancing the Army".

Ian Simmons, chairman of Save The King's Regiment Campaign, said: "The regular army soldier has been betrayed by Labour politicians who collectively have conspired to decimate many of the UK's famous regiments - all of this at a time when global threats to our security are apparent."

Members and supporters of the regiment marched along with Army veteran organisations and campaigners fighting to save the Scots regiments and other regiments under threat.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Mike Storey (Lib Dem) was among the speakers addressing the rally.