The Battle of Parliament 2012
CALL to ARMS
Save 2RRF Demo in London 18th October 2012
On all slide shows on the web site press F11 on top line of your key board and when finished press F11 again this shows you the whole photo
Below are photos taken by our lads
Click on the name to see photos
Click on the link to see video Stephen Spielberg of the North East Chester Potts of the day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jFm5HZOEK8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4vd3ON33iI

How hard faced can you get using Fusiliers to advertise the TA watch the lunch time news 20:08 minutes in http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01nr13j/BBC_News_at_One_08_11_2012/

SAVE THE SECOND BATTALION
UPDATE TO ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
5th November 2012

Fusiliers,

You will all have received Brigadier Minter's letter last week detailing the brilliant turnout and summarising the debate in Parliament led by John Baron. I would also like to extend my personal thanks to all Fusiliers who turned up on the 18th October in London and to the organisers from the Areas who made it all possible.

Brigadier Trevor and I thought it might be useful to inform all Fusiliers of what has happened since the March and what we are planning in the future. A significant victory was achieved on 18 October but we do need the campaign to continue. There are a series of actions planned both in Parliament and with the press.

In Parliament John Baron has:

" Together with a number of supporting MPs, met with the Government Chief Whip on Monday. He made him aware of our campaign, and of our determination to continue to pursue it through Parliament. He has asked that other MPs will be making their views known to their respective whips in order to build the campaign.
" On Tuesday, John and 11 MPs from across the House met the Secretary of State and the Chief of the General Staff. Again, the case was put, but the response failed to convince those present that there was sufficient justification for the additional criteria of limiting regimental losses to one battalion and no loss of cap badges - which saved a more poorly recruited Scottish battalion and felled the better recruited 2RRF - particularly given the experiences of the 2006 cuts. It was important to have had the meeting, given the SoS was not in the 18th October debate and John had been unsuccessful in discussing the issue with him since.
" We are currently challenging the FOI responses which have been less than constructive. John Baron and Lorna Fitzsimons are both working on this.

Fusilier Activities

" Ex-Fusiliers, through the Area Associations, are stepping up the campaign with letters being directed to local MPs and surgeries requested. Letters will also be sent to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State and Chairman of the Defence Select Committee.
" The Regimental Associations are priming themselves for a much larger march on Parliament should it be needed. As mentioned previously, Associations from other regiments have expressed support which is appreciated, The Press campaign is continuing both locally and nationally.
" Letters will be sent to the Chairman of the Defence Select Committee by some key retired individuals in the Regiment.

As outlined in Brigadier Trevor's letter "what can you do" many of you have written and lobbied for which many thanks. We shall continue to disseminate guidance through the Associations locally or directly in the case of retired officers to maintain momentum but not look too templated. .

We all recognise this is going to be a prolonged campaign and we need to maintain the pressure and profile. It is a team effort and if anyone has further ideas or suggestions please do not hesitate to feed back.

Once a Fusilier always a Fusilier

Brian Gorski
Colonel (Retd)
Campaign Coordinator

SAVE THE SECOND BATTLION
UPDATE TO ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
2nd November 2012

Fusiliers,

I would like to extend my personal thanks to all Fusiliers who turned up on the 18th October in London for the march and the debate in the House of Commons. We had 420 Fusilier marching and another 50 supporters on the side-lines which was first class. A large number of you travelled long distances to support the reversal of the decision to save 2RRF so it was even more remarkable to see so many fresh, smiling faces. As you will no doubt have seen the press coverage was enormous and raised the profiles considerably. In particular there are clips on U-Tube that capture the excellent atmosphere generated during the event.

I thought it might be useful to inform all Fusiliers of what has happened since the March and what we are planning in the future. Although this battle has been won we need to carry the campaign further. We have a series of actions planned both in Parliament and with the press.

In Parliament John Baron has:

* Together with a number of supporting MPs, met with the Government Chief Whip on Monday. He made him aware of our campaign, and of our determination to continue to pursue it through Parliament. He has asked that other MPs will be making their views known to their respective whips in order to build the campaign.

* On Tuesday, John and 11 MPs from across the House met the Secretary of State and the Chief of the General Staff. Again, the case was put, but the response failed to convince those present that there was sufficient justification for the additional criteria of limiting regimental losses to one battalion and no loss of cap badges - which saved a more poorly recruited Scottish battalion and felled the better recruited 2RRF - particularly given the experiences of the 2006 cuts. It was important to have had the meeting, given the SoS was not in the 18th October debate and John had been unsuccessful in discussing the issue with him since.

* John has also had a meeting with the Chief Clerk of the House of Commons, who has suggested a number of Parliamentary avenues. He also reminded us that the Staffordshire Regiment fought a successful campaign against disbandment in the early 1990s. This avenue is being investigated to reap any lessons learnt.

* On Wednesday at PMs Questions John asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and his office is now in the process of arranging details.

* John is currently enlisting the support of one or two members of the House of Lords in order to create the conditions for a debate in that house. We may repeat this in the House of Commons as well.

* We are currently challenging the FOI responses which have been less than constructive. John Baron and Lorna Fitzsimons are both working on this.

Fusilier Activities

* Fusiliers, through the Area Associations, are stepping up the campaign with letters being directed to local MPs and surgeries requested. Letters will also being sent to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State and Chairman of the Defence Select Committee.

* The Regimental Associations are priming themselves for a much larger march on Parliament should it be needed. As mentioned previously, associations from other regiments have expressed support, and this time we will be happy for them to join us on any march.

* We are considering posting a Fusilier outside of 10 Downing Street for a week or two prior to the visit by John to the Prime Minister. This might also extend to the House of Commons at some point in time.

* We shall be inviting those MPs supporting the campaign to a function to say thank you. Regimental areas will be doing the same.

* The Press campaign is continuing both locally and nationally.

* Letters have been written to the Chairman of the Defence Select Committee by some key individuals in the Regiment.

I/we shall be writing to you all either through the Associations locally or directly in the case of retired officers to ask that you write to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State, Chairman of the Defence Select Committee and to your local MP.
(Webmasters note :- These emails containing your personal letter have now gone out. If you have not had one, it probably means we have not got your latest email address. Please email Dennis at webmaster-fus-Assoc@hotmail.co.uk )

This is going to be a prolonged campaign and we need to maintain the pressure and profile. If anyone has any further contribution or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me either through your Association Chairmen or directly.

Once a Fusilier always a Fusilier

Brian Gorski
Colonel (Retd)
Campaign Leader

25th October 2012
The Campaign to save 2RRF
Dear Fusiliers
It is a week on from the excellent turnout in London and the debate in Parliament and I should like to share a few thoughts.
Firstly what a marvellous campaigning day it was - we achieved far more than most of us dared to hope. The organisation was brilliant led by Brian Gorski, Joe Eastwood, Chester Potts, John Rice, Dennis Laverick and so many others. London lacked a central focus but the individuals turning out to support were unexpected and really added to the day.
Throughout the day I referred to Association members as Veterans because that is an immediately understandable term to the general public. However, I have never seen the Association look more impressive in my 40 years in the Regiment. The way everyone came together behind the single cause was awe inspiring. We really were acting as one family and it was a demonstration of solidarity to the media, public and Parliament.
The debate in Parliament was a display of democracy in action. The Association in the areas had lobbied in their areas and the MPs responded very positively to that (as well as the rows of Regimental ties and medals in the gallery staring down at them). The quality of debate was excellent and all our points were given a full and fair hearing. Brigadier Roy Wilde and I, as past Colonels, have written to thank them and I am sure the area leaders have done the same. What a brilliant champion we had in John Baron leading the debate and speaking so well while the Minister's performance was an own goal.
I am conscious of not being the Colonel any more but believe that those still serving, including my successor, are in a difficult position. We were there once when an order was an order. However, we all have a role to play now in supporting the serving part of the Regiment who otherwise have no voice.
To put the record straight, it was a dreadful day when I was summoned by CGS in mid May to be told in confidence where the axe was to fall. I was told that the decision was based on past and projected recruiting levels. I questioned this and was told the data on which the decision was based would be provided - it never has been. All the other criteria that the Minister quoted has been invented since to retrofit justifying the decision which is of course entirely political.
I believe that there will now be an operational pause while the political implications are taken in by Government and hopefully some negotiations begin. We will also be pursuing some Freedom of Information requests.
What can you do? On an area basis we need to lobby the other MPs who were not there to support the cause and point out the 57 - 3 vote which was the voice of Parliament speaking. The more we can line up for the future the better. Colonel Brian Gorski is co-ordinating this with the area leaders. As already demonstrated MPs are duty bound to respond to their constituents and will be conscious of the ground swell of opinion and how it might affect their re-election. There is also the e-petition which remains open for further signatures at www.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35724.
Finally we need to continue to marshal the troops for future action. Do please check with your e-mail and facebook Fusilier comrades that they are briefed and are on the distribution list to receive further information. Some of those who turned up in Whitehall last week are not linked in to the Association but responded to the call for support.
Let us all be clear this will be a long campaign up to 2014.
Once a Fusilier always a Fusilier
Trevor Minter OBE
Brig (retd)
Colonel of the Regiment 2007- 2012

I would like to extend my thanks to all members of the Regiment, Corps of Drums, Lancashire and Standards bearers that attended the parade on Thursday 18th October and to all those who wrote to me wishing us all the best on the day. In particular, I am grateful to Lt Col John Rice, Maj Chester Potts, Maj Alex Ferguson, Captain Joe Eastwood and Dennis Laverick for their hard work and help leading up to the event.

Not only was I heartened by the massive attendance numbering 420 marching, and many others supporting but, also for the way in which everyone carried off the day with such dignity and professionalism. It was a proud moment when we all stepped off down Whitehall knowing that behind me marched the pride of the Regiment in support of the serving soldiers in Second Battalion. I am fully aware of the strength of feeling of everyone participating and I can assure you that we had a significant impact not only within in the Press but the sheer presence of a packed public gallery influenced the entire debate because of the outward display of the strength of our feeling. You were outstanding and you have my personal thanks and the thanks of the Regiment for turning out on the day. This campaign will not cease until we have exhausted every avenue in support of the 2nd Battalion.
Brian Gorski

May I thank all the veteran Fusiliers who participated in the march and lobby of Parliament. It had a real effect, as those in the House of Commons Gallery during the debate will testify. We have now won a Parliamentary vote, urging the Government to think again about its misguided decision to axe 2RRF.
The will of Parliament has been tested, which I hope the Government will now respect. We have won an important battle; we now need to win the campaign.
John Baron MP