John Baron MP wins 2RRF Parliamentary vote as over 400 ex-Fusiliers descend on Parliament

MP vows to continue campaign

Today in the House of Commons, John Baron MP won a Parliamentary vote at the end of his debate opposing the Government’s proposals to disband the 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF). The vote was won 57 votes to 3.

John and his fellow MPs believe that 2RRF is being cut despite being a well-recruited battalion when compared to other battalions in the British Army. Notably, several battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland have far worse recruiting records than 2RRF, but are not being cut. John contends the Government has decided not to cut these battalions because it is worried of appearing anti-Scottish in the lead-up to the 2014 Scottish referendum.

The debate and vote were the culmination of a day of campaigning to save 2RRF. At 9.30am John delivered a 10,000-signature petition to the door of No 10 Downing Street. Shortly afterwards, over 400 ex-Fusiliers marched down Whitehall and across Parliament Square. John briefly addressed the  veteran soldiers outside Parliament before starting the debate in the House of Commons. The 400 ex-Fusiliers took their seats in the Commons Public Gallery and elsewhere on the Parliamentary Estate to watch the well-attended debate.

During the debate John said,

“I believe no battalions should be cut – Scottish or otherwise. But if there are to be cuts, then military logic should prevail, and not some political fix borne out of the misguided view that this will somehow help to save the Union.”

“Discriminating against English battalions is not the way to go about cementing this Union.”

After winning the vote, John said,

“I now hope that the Government is not arrogant and ignores the will of Parliament, which has now been tested. I, and other MPs from across the political divide, will press the Government to think again following this vote. We have won a battle today; we now need to win the campaign.”