WEST Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has waded into the debate over West Dunbartonshire’s lack of an Armed Forces Day celebration.

Mr Docherty-Hughes raised a question in Parliament to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon after it was revealed that the annual celebration was cancelled this year due to a lack of capacity among local forces to host it.

His parliamentary intervention follows a letter sent to Mr Fallon, in which he called on the minister to provide reassurance that the event would take place next year.

Mr Docherty-Hughes said: “I have been contacted by a number of constituents, local organisations and councillors who have expressed alarm that no events took place this year due to insufficient capacity in the armed forces.

“The UK government’s cuts to the defence budget are putting considerable pressure on the resources of our armed forces, resulting in a lack of the necessary personnel needed to carry out their duties.

“It is important that the communities of West Dunbartonshire are given the opportunity to pay tribute to the bravery of our service personnel and veterans.

“As the brother of a local reservist veteran I hope that this situation will not arise again in West Dunbartonshire.”

The decision had caused a stir locally, with Labour figures including Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and former council leader Martin Rooney criticising the local SNP administration for an “extremely disappointing” and “embarrassing” response.

SNP council leader Jonathan McColl then responded by claiming that the area’s Deputy Lieutenant, Col Bobby Steele – who is in charge of organising the parade – had advised that the event would not be able to go ahead, and the council’s provost William Hendrie reiterated the SNP group’s “full support” of the armed forces.

Gil Paterson MSP said: “I agree with Mr Docherty-Hughes MP that the Tory government have let down West Dunbartonshire and they have decimated the armed forces personnel in Scotland in favour of spending £200 billion on new nuclear weapons which Labour support and this is the consequence of it.”

In response to Mr Docherty-Hughes’ comments, Ms Baillie said she welcomed the interested and noted the shared disappointment. She added: “Like me, he values the work that our armed forces do and believes it is fitting to pay tribute to this.

“Whilst I would expect the UK government to provide sufficient resource for Armed Forces Day, I can’t help but think that perhaps the council could have stepped in to help with the practical arrangements.

“That would have helped local volunteers in putting on such an event. Perhaps that will be borne in mind next year.”