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  David Sumberg MEP   

 

BRINGING COMMONSENSE TO BRUSSELS

Date:  09/10/2004

 

SUMBERG URGES HOON NOT TO AXE CHESHIRE REGIMENT

North West Conservative MEP David Sumberg is throwing his weight behind the campaign to save the Cheshire Regiment from the axe.

Mr Sumberg has joined forces with the Crewe and Nantwich prospective parliamentary candidate Eveleigh Moore-Dutton who has gathered 3,000 signatures on a petition demanding the Cheshire Regiment is saved.

Mr Sumberg said he would write to the Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon urging him to think twice about scrapping the world famous regiment.

"We must do all we can to save this regiment,' he said. "They are in Iraq at the moment, taking a lot of incoming mortar fire, in extremely perilous and dangerous circumstances. The least we can do is fight for their interests back home while they put their lives on the line for democracy and freedom. I am sure this campaign will lift morale and spirits in the regiment in these trouble days in Iraq."

Mrs Moore-Dutton, who is also a Cheshire County Councillor, started a petition with cross-party support because she is concerned about Government plans for a major restructuring of the armed forces.

The proposals would see four British infantry regiments abolished, with their personnel merged with larger units.

Whatever happens, this move will mean the end of the Cheshire Regiment in its current form.

Cllr Moore Dutton said: "I do think the Cheshire Regiment is very special, 90 per cent of its soldiers are from Cheshire. It's more than a sentimental connection. It's part of their recruitment programme."

Other supporters of Mrs Moore-Dutton's campaign include the Shadow Defence Secretary Nicholas Soames, Cheshire County Council's Conservative leader Paul Findlow and the council Chief Executive Jeremy Taylor.

The petition reads: 'We the under-signed urge the Government to reject the option of amalgamating the Cheshire Regiment. We value the unique identity, its name, traditions and the regiment's 300-year history of service to our nation around the world.'

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