Fury as veterans ordered to make way for asylum seekers in historic army barracks

Military veterans have apparently been ousted from a military base in the Scottish Highlands to make way for hundreds of asylum seekers, with the news breaking on Remembrance Day. Cameron Barracks, near Inverness city centre, is set to house approximately 300 male migrants, with the first arrivals due next month.

The move has sparked community outrage amid concerns that it could compromise the safety of young women and strain already stretched local services. A protest against the controversial proposals is scheduled for this weekend.

It has now come to light that the Cameron Barracks Regimental Association has been instructed to vacate the site before the arrival of the first asylum seekers. The association, which includes veterans linked to both the Cameron Barracks site and the Queen's Own Highlanders, was reported by the Press and Journal.

According to the association's website, its purpose is to "promote the welfare of all veterans of the Regiment and foster esprit de corps, comradeship and Regimental interest among the veterans of all ranks and their families connected to the Queen's Own Highlanders". Membership is open to veterans who served in the Queen's Own Highlanders or predecessor regiments, the Seaforth Highlanders and Cameron Highlanders.

Local Conservative MSP Edward Mountain expressed his disappointment, stating: "It's deeply disappointing that veterans of the Queen's Own Highlanders are being forced out of their historic base to make way for this ill-thought-out plan", reports the Scottish Daily Express.

"These are men and women who have served our country with distinction and deserve far better treatment.

"Highlanders have always shown compassion to those in need, but this decision again highlights the lack of consultation and planning from both the SNP Government and the Home Office."

Mr Mountain emphasised that the "needs of our veterans and local communities must not be an afterthought," adding: "Ministers must urgently find a solution that respects our armed forces community."

The news of the eviction from the Ministry of Defence-owned building broke on November 11, coinciding with the anniversary of the end of World War I. Ceremonies were held across the nation to honour the fallen of the Great War and subsequent conflicts.

Inverness MP Angus MacDonald, a Liberal Democrat who served with the Queen's Own Highlanders in both the Falklands and Northern Ireland, said: "Three Scots family quarters adjoin the site. There is considerable unease in the camp with the soldiers being deployed next year."

The barracks had previously been utilised as part of the Afghan resettlement scheme.

This recent development has ignited a political dispute between the UK and Scottish governments, with SNP Ministers alleging they only discovered the barracks would be used when the story emerged in the media last month, a claim contested by the Home Office.

A Home Office spokeswoman expressed her outrage, stating: "We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.

"This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities across the country. We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across-government so that we can accelerate delivery."

The Cameron Barracks Regimental Association has been approached for comment.