It is the biggest electoral bribe in political history. Union leaders calculate that the cost of moving the merged Army headquarters from York to Edinburgh could cost taxpayers a whopping £104 million over the next 25 years.

That is the huge price taxpayers could pay to appease Scottish voters as they prepare to vote for their own parliament.

The Government has always insisted that the loss of the York HQ was based purely on "military and operational cost-effectiveness". The military argument was already shot through with holes: the 2nd Division boasts ten times the number of soldiers as its Scottish counterpart.

Today's figures explode any notion that the reorganisation is cost-effective.

The £104 million figure has not been plucked from the air. Civil service unions have provided a line-by-line breakdown of where the extra costs will be incurred.

Most of the calculations are based around such practical issues as transport, relocation and property expenses.

Other costs are more speculative. If the Scottish National Party gains control of the Scottish Parliament, it might order the 'English' army back to York, the unions suggest. But as they point out, even if their calculations prove to be 50 per cent wrong, the cost to the taxpayer is still a massive £52 million. That is 13 times more than the £4 million shortfall in the North Yorkshire social services budget.

It is outrageous that the Government is willing to spend so much on this unnecessary reorganisation while at the same time it is urging public sector parsimony. Our health service is struggling and schools require urgent investment. The country cannot afford to waste £52 million.

The struggle to save the city HQ is not over until the first soldiers move out. As a backbench MP Hugh Bayley fought valiantly on behalf of Imphal Barracks. But now he is the newest junior minister in the Government and unable to continue the battle in public.

Fortunately, the Conservative Ryedale MP John Greenway is more than able to continue the fight. He is firing the fresh ammunition provided by the unions directly at the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Greenway is demanding that the tax bill is scrutinised by the public accounts committee. It is in the interests of York and the British taxpayer that this investigation takes place.

see NEWS 'Army HQ switch 'will cost £104m''

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