ELLESMERE Port Labour MP Andrew Miller seized the opportunity of a Parliamentary debate to underline the message that the Cheshire Regiment has a secure future.
Mr Miller was angry over long-running speculation that the famous old county unit could either be axed or merged with another regiment.
And he spoke of his satisfaction at seeing the rumours quashed by the recent publication of the latest De-fence White Paper, in which there was no mention of any cuts to infantry regiments.
He also accused those responsible for spreading the rumours of doing so for 'cheap political gain'.
Back in the House of Commons, Mr Miller joined in an exchange during Defence Questions.
Conservative member Chris Grayling had asked Defence Minister Adam Ingram if he had set any personnel levels for the Army over the next five years.
Mr Ingram replied that the current manning requirement was 106,730 and that the Government's target was to achieve 'manning balance' by the end of 2005 and maintain it thereafter.
The Minister also stressed there were no recruitment freezes in the Army.
Mr Miller asked Mr Ingram if he thought the targets would be easier to achieve 'if we avoid the sort of false rumour that spread in the run-up to the White Paper's publication,' adding: 'Does he agree that such rumours about the future of the Army, especially our regiments, damage recruitment and morale?'
Mr Ingram replied: 'I could not agree more. Recruitment is proving difficult in some areas of the country. That is not because of lack of determination by Army recruiters or the recruitment teams in other parts of the armed forces. We are keen to build our strength in all areas.
'We are determined to build our strengths because we have to maintain our manning balance and the required strength that I outlined.
'Every time someone mentions that a regiment is under threat, that could affect its recruitment ... we try to maintain regiments' strengths, not under-mine them.'
