SCOTLAND'S famous Black Watch battalion is facing the axe under Tory defence cuts, it has emerged.

The UK's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, has been told the Army can no longer justify its 30 infantry battalions.

The Black Watch was spared in the last round of cuts by the Ministry of Defence, amid Conservative fears scrapping Scottish units would support for independence.

But the historic regiment, along with Highlanders and Royal Highland Fusiliers have struggled to fill their ranks.

An MoD source told the Sun: "It makes sense for the battalions most under strength to be rolled into each other. Painful decisions will have to be made."

The SNP's defence spokesman Stewart McDonald criticised any move to axe the regiment.

He said: "To dismantle this ancient regiment would be a serious betrayal of all who serve and who have served in the past.

“It would be unconscionable for any government to scrap the historic Black Watch and it would fly in the face of the promises made to the Scottish people, and those Scots serving in the armed forces, during the independence referendum - a promise that the government is already falling far short of.

"No Defence Secretary worth their salt would even consider signing this off and I expect Ben Wallace to signal that at the earliest opportunity.”

Former Lib Dem leader Lord Campbell warned: “Fighting an independence referendum off the back of disbanding famous Scottish units would be a very unwise political decision."

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “The Black Watch is more than just a symbol of our shared history and traditions, it’s a Scottish and British institution that continues to play a vital role in our armed services. 

"These reports speculating about the future of the Black Watch are deeply unhelpful. I’m urgently seeking reassurances from the Ministry of Defence that this battalion will not be disbanded and we will continue to make the strong and compelling case that Scotland’s significant contribution to the UK Armed Forces is maintained.”

It was reported last week that the Army will lose 10,000 troops a year if the UK Government doesn’t increase spending by £15 billion top-up over three years.
The Chancellor has offered just £1.9billion.