Brown faces regiments challenge

Pipers herald the unveiling of Anne McMillan

Campaigners opposed to the merger of Scotland's regiments are targeting Chancellor Gordon Brown's seat at the forthcoming general election.

Save the Scottish Regiments has named Anne McMillan, whose father served in the Black Watch, as a candidate in the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.

The group has already promised to stand against Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram in his East Kilbride seat.

Ms McMillan was unable to attend the launch of her campaign at Westminster.

Save the Scottish Regiments is also backing opposition parties against Labour in nine other seats.

Infantry battalions

The government announced last year that two of Scotland's regiments, the King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Scots, are to be merged.

It will then join the other four infantry battalions in the new Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The decision sparked protests and led the Save the Scottish Regiments Campaign to take its opposition to the ballot box.

Last month the group announced that former Scots Guardsman Allan Hendry would challenge Mr Ingram at the election.

It has endorsed opposition candidates in an attempt to unseat Labour in Aberdeen South, Dumfriesshire, Dundee East and West, South West Edinburgh, Ochil, Stirling, East Renfrewshire and Western Isles.

Gordon Brown is responsible for forcing Army chiefs to make defence cuts due to his penny-pinching Anne McMillan

The chancellor's Dunfermline East constituency will disappear at the next election under boundary changes.

Kirkcaldy MP Lewis Moonie is to retire allowing Mr Brown to contest the new Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat.

Ms McMillan, 43, said in a statement: "Gordon Brown is responsible for forcing Army chiefs to make defence cuts due to his penny-pinching."

The former nurse said: "I intend to make the electorate of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath aware of Gordon Brown's part in the intended demise of Scottish regiments and in particular the Black Watch regiment."

Ms McMillan said she would also campaign on health issues.