Campaign to save threatened Welsh regiment gathers pace

Owen Smith has written to both Cheryl Gillan and the prime minister to argue the case for 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

My photograph shows the new shadow Welsh secretary, Owen Smith, mobilising his parliamentary troops against possible changes to the "Welsh cavalry".

There has been much speculation about 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards ahead of possible restructuring of the Army.

Owen Smith has written to both Cheryl Gillan and the prime minister to argue the case for one of only three Welsh regiments.

Mrs Gillan has in turn written to the defence secretary, Philip Hammond, to make her views known - as apparently she did with his predecessor, Liam Fox.

I'm told that in her letter Mrs Gillan stresses the importance of Welsh regiments as part of the British frontline force and to communities in Wales. She also recognises the importance of balancing the future structure of the Army.

Owen Smith's request for a copy of the Gillan letter was turned down, but he has now challenged her to intervene with the prime minister to save the regiment after newspaper reports that David Cameron had saved three Scottish ones under threat.