JOANNA VALLELY,
The Evening News
November 1 2005
SCOTS actor Richard Wilson and musical producer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber have gone into battle for Scotland's regiments.
The pair are among stars signing a petition calling for the Government to reverse its controversial defence shake-up.
The campaigners, who have already secured support from Sir Sean Connery, want to halt the plans which would see Edinburgh-based Royal Scots merged with the King's Own Scottish Borderers into a new battalion of a super-regiment.
Signatures on the petition, launched just over two months ago, have now passed the 100,000 mark.
The names will be presented to the Prime Minister on St Andrew's Day by politicians and former army personnel.
One Foot in the Grave actor and Labour stalwart Wilson and television presenter Lorraine Kelly are thought to have joined the campaign because they have friends or family in Scottish regiments.
Sir Andrew, creator of musicals such as Cats and Evita, is understood to have become interested in the campaign because his wife Madeleine's father was a Black Watch soldier.
Capital-born screen legend Sir Sean has taken an interest in the issue through his strong friendship with SNP leader Alex Salmond.
Mr Wilson, who was born in Greenock and whose father served in the Army, said he was keen to support the campaign.
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He said: "I have a very soft spot for the Scottish regiments."
Jeff Duncan, director of Save The Scottish Regiments, said such high profile support would help to win people to the cause.
Mr Duncan said: "It's nice for people to know celebrities have a view on this. Richard Wilson is a well-known Labour supporter and contributor so for someone like him to disagree with the Government sends out a powerful message.
"Richard Wilson and Andrew Lloyd-Webber don't live in Scotland, so for them to sign up shows they are looking at the Army and seeing what's wrong."
Mr Duncan added that they were "working very hard" to get a high-profile Scot to accompany Mr Salmond when he presented the petition in Downing Street.
Mr Duncan said GMTV presenter Kelly felt particularly strongly about the changes to the Army.
"Lorraine has strong Black Watch connections and she has been a supporter from day one. It infuriated her that they were disbanded the day after they came home from Iraq," he said.
The petition to parliament will be seen off in Edinburgh in the morning and greeted by several high-profile MPs at the House of Commons before being delivered to Downing Street by Mr Salmond, six former soldiers of the six Scottish Regiments and several MPs.
Opposition MPs including Lib Dem Menzies Campbell, Tory Malcolm Rifkind and Mr Salmond were among those who turned up at Holyrood to launch the petition in August.
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