John Baron MP to deliver ‘Save 2RRF’ petition to No 10 as part of Fusilier ‘March on Parliament’

Hundreds of ex-Fusiliers to protest at Army cuts.

Tomorrow, many hundreds of ex-Fusiliers and their families will be forming up in Whitehall outside No 10 to deliver a ‘Save 2RRF’ petition at 2.30pm with supporting MPs. They will then march onto Old Palace yard, where they will be addressed by Brig (Rtd) T Minter OBE, John Baron MP and Col (Rtd) Ian Brazier. All press are welcome.

This is the Fusiliers’ second March on Parliament – the first one being October last year, during which their cause was debated in the House of Commons and the Government was defeated in the vote that followed. Letters from the MoD confirm that the 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF), was not one of the original five regular infantry battalions to be disbanded – these original five all having poorer recruitment and retention records. However, the decision was made to retain one of the five and 2RRF was selected to take its place despite being the best-recruited battalion in the British Army.

John said,

“The axing of 2RRF proves the Government’s mishandling of these Army reforms. It makes no sense to save less well-recruited – and therefore more expensive – battalions. Such a policy simply reinforces failure and costs the taxpayer more.”

“It is yet more evidence that Government plans to replace 20,000 regulars with 30,000 reservists are on the rocks. They will not deliver the cost savings envisaged. Replacing regular troops with reservists will be expensive and lead to unacceptable manpower and capability gaps, but the Government seems determined to plough on blindly.”

“Let us hope this March and our House of Commons debate on ‘Defence Reforms’ on Thursday will encourage a rethink.”

Col (Rtd) Ian Brazier (Chairman, Fusiliers Association), said,

“It makes absolutely no sense for 2RRF to be disbanded. The government has spoken about efficiencies and cost savings, but there is no explanation for this unfathomable decision, despite repeated formal requests under the Freedom of Information Act. A public review of the criteria which led to the last minute substitution of 2RRF for disbandment, ostensibly offered by the Secretary of State for Defence, has not materialised. It has proved to be an empty offer.”

“So far, this has been a striking demonstration of poor management and leadership on the Government’s part, to say nothing of the betrayal of the hundreds of men who have served in the Second Battalion.”

Notes to Editors:

• A full Administrative Order for the March can be found at: http://www.fusiliers-association.co.uk/MEN2RRF/15th_Oct.htm.
• Sunday papers covering these issues included the Sunday Times and the Sun on Sunday.
• The march on parliament is only the second public military protest since the British Army was formed in 1707. The march will begin with the official delivery of thousands of petition signatures to 10 Downing Street, in formal protest against the disbandment of the Second Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF). Accompanying the Fusilier contingent for the signature delivery will be around ten MPs, including John Baron (Basildon and Billericay), who is leading a cross-party drive for a re-evaluation of the Defence Cuts.
• Following his disruption of Philip Hammond’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference on Sunday 29^th September – where he stood to complain to the Secretary of State for Defence directly, calling him ‘a disgrace’ – Colonel Ian Brazier (Retired), Chairman of The Fusiliers Association, will be leading the march. Hundreds of former Fusiliers, including several former Colonels of the Regiment, will proceed in formation down Whitehall after the delivery of petitions – accompanied by fife and drum – along with wounded men, widows and families.
• The government has argued that disbanding 2RRF is part of the wider defence cuts which are sweeping through the British Army, bringing a 20 per cent reduction in force over the next few years as part of a drive for greater efficiency and savings. But as one of the best recruited and most sustainable regiments in the army, with strong local ties to Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, and London, disbanding 2RRF is nonsensical and unjustified.
• A Back Bench Business Debate on the Government’s Army reforms will take place on Thursday 17th October, secured by John Baron and his colleagues. The full motion is as follows: that this House notes concerns about the Government’s defence reforms in relation to whether its proposals for the Reserve Forces will deliver either the anticipated cost savings or defence capability; and urges the Government to delay the disbandment of regular units until it is established the Army Reserve plan is viable and cost-effective.