THE ARMY is now downsizing, as the public sector is cut to bail out the banks.

There is nothing wrong with cutting one’s cloth to match reality, something the UK should have done years ago. Hasty ill-thought-out defence cuts tend to come back and bite you further down the line.

These defence cuts need to be balanced with a realistic assessment of future strategic needs and balanced regionally rather than over focused on Wales.

The 1st Queens Dragoon Guards (QDG) which recruits some 75 per cent of its solders from all parts of Wales is under threat.

Losing the QDG is not a sensible option.

The loss of the regiment will have significant economic knock-on effects, with redundancies, something that will not help in these grim economic times.

Once again Wales may lose out again and 500 jobs could be lost.

The UK Prime Minister, faced with a well organised and focused Scottish response has apparently indicated that he does not want to see any of the infantry or cavalry regiments in Scotland removed.

There has been no clear answer as to the fate of the QDG. This is clearly unacceptable.

Jonathan T Clark, Lambert Street, Newport