ENGLISH MPs have accused the Coalition Government of a political fix to preserve Scottish battalions ahead of 2014's independence referendum.

Five infantry battalions are to be axed as ministers cut the size of the Army.

There had been fears that part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland would also be axed. But earlier this year, ministers confirmed all five battalions would remain.

However, the Government had also announced that the 131-year-old Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders would be cut to 100 men and given the role of guarding Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Balmoral as part of largely ceremonial duties.

That has infuriated English MPs, who said the decision was part of a bid to keep Scotland in the UK.

The comments came as MPs protested against plans to scrap 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. John Baron, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, and a former captain in the Fusiliers, said: "I'm a firm believer in the Union but this is not the way to achieve it. In my view, the Government's culpability is demonstrated by its reluctance to justify its decision."

He spoke as scores of veterans looked on from the public gallery. Around 400 members of the Fusiliers marched to Westminster to protest over the decision.

Mr Baron pointed to Scots battalions which he said had much worse recruiting records than the Fusiliers.