Attack on Army shakeup plans.

Byline: By Zoe Hughes Political Editor

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is coming under increasing fire over plans to overhaul regiments in the North after a senior Tory warned it could damage historic recruitment links with the region.

Tory chief whip and Penrith and the Border MP David Maclean hit out at suggestions the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment could be merged to make way for a larger Lancashire Regiment ( and demanded the Defence Secretary keep Borders in the new name.

The future of regiments across the country is under threat with plans to dramatically restructure the British infantry, and reduce the number of battalions from 40 to 36.

The North is likely to be one of the worst hit regions, with speculation mounting that the KORBR will be merged with another unit to create a new Royal Lancashire Regiment and for the Kings Own Scottish Borderers to be merged with the Royal Scots.

However, it is plans to cut a battalion from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which recruits heavily in Northumberland, that has caused uproar in the region, with Berwick MP Alan Beith already blasting the plans as "illogical".

He has launched a campaign to save the unit from any cuts after they voluntary merged in the 1960s to become a larger "flexible" unit, as Army chiefs are now demanding.

"There is no sense in this at all," he told The Journal recently.

The fight to save three regiments in the North though has now been joined by Mr Maclean who wrote to Geoff Hoon calling for the name Borders to be kept in any possible merger.

He warned the "parachute regiment concept" could not work with county infantry units but accepted the merger of the KORBR was almost "inevitable".

A decision is expected next Wednesday, but Mr Maclean added: "I can tell you now that unless the name "Border" is added to that title then you will get no recruits from Cumbria and you will have ended 300 years of devoted service to the colours in Cumbria. It was the Duke of Cumberland and the Cumberland Regiment who sorted out my ancestors at Culloden in 1746 and they have a very distinguished record of service to this country.

"Cumbrians will not join a Lancashire regiment or one which is perceived to be Lancastrian. Name and title is everything.

"I appeal to you that if you are still minded to go down this amalgamation route, then the name "Border" must be added to and Lancashire regiment title, not just to keep a glorious regimental history, but in the order to guarantee recruits in the future."

Army chiefs met this week to give their final recommendations on the future structure of the armed forces, with reports suggesting the creation of super-regiments instead of single battalions. It is expected that the Kings Own Scottish Borderers will be merged with the Royal Scots to make up one of five new battalions in a "super-Scottish" division; that the Kings Own Royal Border Regiment will be amalgamated or disbanded to make way for a new Royal Lancashire Regiment; and that the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will lose one battalion.

It has also been suggested the Green Howards, which recruits in Yorkshire and in the south of the region, has been saved after the Prime Minister personally stepped in to save the unit ( moving the Fusiliers into the firing line.