Row over army’s decision to honour Scottish Tory leader
●Ruth Davidson accuses Nationalists of ‘vitriolic’ attacks over ceremonial role
Ruth Davidson sparked a new storm over her appointment as an honorary army colonel as it emerged the military bypassed regulations to put her in the ceremonial role.
The Scottish Conservative leader hit out at the SNP after documents relating to the appointment were published following a written parliamentary question.
They reveal that Ms Davidson was the only person put forward for the position as honorary colonel of 32 Signal Regiment, the unit she served with as a Territorial Army soldier.
There are also questions over how Ms Davidson will carry out her role in spite of a Ministry of Defence ban on enlisted troops speaking to elected politicians without permission from ministers.
Yesterday Ms Davidson, who is on a two-week holiday during the Holyrood parliamentary recess, lashed out in response to the query from Douglas Chapman MP, complaining she had
come under attack from “fury brigades on social media”.
In a string of 35 posts on Twitter, the Scottish Conservative leader accused Nationalists of whipping up “hostile and vitriolic tirades” against her and said she had suffered “the Highland Spring treatment” – a reference to claims this week that the bottled water company backed away from criticism of a second independence referendum after being contacted by the Scottish Government.
Th es np responded by claiming Ms Davidson had gone into “summer meltdown”.
“I know that the fury brigades on social media react to the slightest trigger, and I am a pretty stout veteran of 2014, but even I wasn’t expecting the hostile and vitriolic tirades that followed the event at Edinburgh Castle to promote Armed Forces day, encouraged by SNP outriders,” Ms Davidson wrote in a series of tweets. “There are thousands of Scots involved in the UK armed forces, both regular and reserve. Hon positions have existed for decades to help and support regimental work.
“My fear is that people will think twice about saying yes if they reckon they’re going to get the ‘Highland Spring’ treatment.” An SNP spokeswoman said: “Ruth Davidson’s summer meltdown suggests her holiday is long overdue and much needed. These are perfectly legitimate questions – it is only right that an MP can hold the party of government to account.”
Correspondence published following a request from Mr Chapman shows Ms Davidson was approached by the commanding officer of 32 Signal Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Rhidian Jones, before agreeing in writing to take on the position.
The role was signed off by Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, a member of Ms Davidson’s party, before being approved by senior officers on behalf of the Queen.
The MOD confirmed that the Scottish Conservative leader was the only candidate.
Under the Terms of Service for Officers set out in the Reserve Land Forces Regulations, “a field of candidates, defined as a minimum of two, should be sought where possible” when recruiting an honorary colonel. Candidates should be considered by a “defined selection panel” in order “to ensure that all suitable people are considered”.
The correspondence also includes a nomination from Lt Col Jones which hails Ms Davidson as a “popular” and “eminent” politician whose appointment will “grant the unit wider influence”.
Welcoming her to her role, the Master of Signals, Lieutenant General Nick Pope, said Ms Davidson would be called upon to use her “personal influence” on behalf of her unit.
However, last night the MOD confirmed that she would not be able to bring up her role in a political capacity under rules that restrict contact between politicians and enlisted troops.
Responding to the lack of a shortlist of candidates, an MOD spokeswoman said: “Whilst a minimum of two is preferred, single nominations can be made.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “For opponents to suggest that senior military officers – including the head of the army in Scotland who signed this off on behalf of her Majesty – haven’t followed the correct protocol is simply wrong. Ruth is not the first politician to serve as an honorary colonel; she’s not even the first Scottish Conservative to do so. This is just the first time the SNP has created a grievance about it.”
“Ruth Davidson’s summer meltdown suggests her holiday is long overdue and much needed”
SNP SPOKESWOMAN