CENTRAL Ayrshire MP, Brian Donohoe has called the decision of the Royal British Legion Scotland to change its name to Legion Scotland as ‘an insult to those who fought and died in wars past and present’ – and he has the backing of the Three Towns Legion President.

Mr Donohoe says he has received a number of complaints from his constituents on the name change.

He said: “This is a disgrace and an insult to those who fought and died in wars past and present as members of Her Majesty’s British Armed Forces and also to those who are members and/or supporters of Royal British Legion Scotland especially those who are veterans or relatives of serving personnel.” The charity has also faced criticism in social media with pro-Union supporters criticising the removal of the word ‘British’ and calling for the name Royal British Legion Scotland to be reinstated.

Alastair Kennedy, President of the Three Towns Branch of the renamed Legion Scotland is also incensed about the rebrand.

He said: “The Ayrshire Area branches are not going to accept this and we are going to fight it.

“We are the Royal British Legion Scotland.

“They say it’s a trading name but I don’t think her Majesty The Queen would be best pleased to be the head of a trading name.

“The war dead must be turning in their graves.

“I am a member of the Royal British Legion Scotland and I will be laid out as a member of the Royal British Legion Scotland.” “The 15 brances of the Ayrshire Area of RBLS are having a meeting on Sunday to discuss this but I don’t want to pre-empt any decision made there.

“Decisions like this need to come from the floor upwards.” A robust defence of the name change was launched by Legion Scotland to defend the change on the basis that it was crucial to halt a decline in membership.

Kevin Gray, Legion Scotland CEO, said, “As a charity it was vital for us to make a choice to adapt to better meet the needs of today’s veterans.

“That’s why we introduced the new day to day name, to let all veterans in Scotland know that Legion Scotland is here for them, whether they left service yesterday or 50 years ago and to attract wider membership in order to provide more services to help veterans and their families.” “Royal and British have not, and will never, be taken away from our identity.

“It is still our legal name. We have retained the original badge on all our Standards, used during Remembrance week and at other ceremonial events throughout the year.” Evidence from local branches suggested that the decline in membership was mainly due to the predominantly older membership and it’s hoped the refreshed image along with the new services developed especially to help today’s veterans, will address that by showing that Legion Scotland helps veterans of all ages.

Kevin Gray added, “We found there has been a perception that younger veterans thought we were not for them.

“Our services and branches do support younger veterans and those returning from current conflicts and we have a responsibility to make that clear – that we are here for veterans of all ages and their families.