Historic Regiment Ousted for Government Asylum Scheme
The Queens Own Highlanders Regimental Association is being forced out of its historic home at Cameron Barracks in Inverness. This eviction is a direct result of the UK Government's controversial plans to house 309 single male asylum seekers at the Ministry of Defence site by the end of the month.
The Association, which provides crucial financial support to regimental veterans and their families while organising social events and reunions, will lose its office at the barracks. The Ministry of Defence has informed the veterans' organisation that the move could last for up to a year while a longer-term solution is sought.
Political Outrage and Accusations of Secrecy
The revelations have sparked significant political backlash, with accusations that the Labour government is disrespecting the site's history and those who served their country. Sources indicate that the MoD has also instructed the Association not to publicly discuss the relocation.
Scottish Tory MP and Shadow Scotland Secretary Andrew Bowie condemned the move, stating it shows the government's "total ignorance... when it comes to the value they put on veterans and their associations." He criticised the "half-baked plan" that is making the association homeless.
SNP defence spokesman Dave Doogan described the proposition as "farcical," adding that it is "unbelievable that the Ministry of Defence has agreed to evict the Regimental Association." He highlighted the dreadful communication and pile-up of unanswered questions surrounding the plan.
A Regiment with a Proud History
The Queens Own Highlanders have a storied past. Formed in 1961 through a merger of the Seaforth Highlanders and The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, the regiment served for 34 years. The late Prince Philip was its Colonel-in-Chief.
The regiment saw action in multiple conflicts, including:
- The Gulf War
- Northern Ireland
- The Falklands War
Prince Philip met with ex-servicemen at the barracks in 2007, and the site has hosted numerous reunions over the years. The Association has already confirmed that its next reunion will be held elsewhere as Cameron Barracks "may not be available."
Further concerns have been raised by Liberal Democrat MP Angus MacDonald, a former Second Lieutenant of the regiment. He highlighted the anxieties of military families living beside the barracks and the pressure the asylum seeker accommodation will place on overstretched local health services.
Despite the outcry, the Home Office has refused to address questions about the veterans' eviction. A spokeswoman stated that using Cameron Barracks is part of the broader effort to close asylum hotels.
