GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUED REFUSAL TO GRANT GURKHAS RIGHTS IS SHAMEFUL
May 8, 2009 5:42 PM
Nick meets Gurkha veterans
Commenting on news that the Gurkhas are still waiting to hear if they will be given the right to remain after last week's historic victory in the Commons, and that some have since been told they must leave the country, local MP Nick Harvey, who has been campaigning for Gurkhas' rights in the House of Commons said:
"Last week we won a vote which sent a clear message to the Government that people want to see justice for Gurkhas. Yet a week on from that decisive victory and the Prime Minister and Government Ministers prefer to delay and procrastinate rather than do the right thing.
That Gurkhas have been told they have to leave in the week since the debate is shameful and it will cause unnecessary distress to those involved.
The Government's approach to this issue has been completely illogical. What message does it send out when nearly two hundred years of military service is repaid with such ingratitude.
Someone who is prepared to fight and die for our country should not have the right to live here. And it is time this for justice, decency and honour for these veterans."
FURTHER INFORMATION:
As part of a Liberal Democrat Opposition Day Debate last Wednesday the Government saw a startling defeat as the Conservatives and over twenty Labour rebels joined the Liberal Democrats to vote for a motion calling on the Government to change its decision regarding settlement rights for Gurkha veterans.
Nick has been heavily involved in the campaign and met the Gurkha veterans when he joined them to protest outside Parliament (pictured at the protest last year).
He was summating for the motion and his speech can be found here:
http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090429/debtext/90429-0023.htm#09042966000002
The Gurkhas have been serving in the British Army for nearly 200 years. In that time they have fought in all of the major conflicts, including the two world wars and the Falklands, they are currently involved in our operations in Afghanistan.
The Government has refused to grant all Gurkhas the right to remain in Britain. Under the current regulations all those who retired post-1997 are able to remain but those who served before this date are not. As a result of the recent Government announcement which sparked the decision to debate the issue in the House of Commons, Gurkhas pre-1997 have to fulfil detailed criteria including over twenty years service, service medals or have family already residing in this country.
The campaign has gained widespread support and has recently received a lot of attention as a result of the efforts of actress Joanna Lumley who has held no punches in questioning Government ministers and demanding a solution.
The Liberal Democrat motion on which the Government was defeated is copied below:
Gurkha Settlement Rights
Mr Nick Clegg
Mr Vince Cable
Mr Chris Huhne
Mr Nick Harvey
Mr David Heath
Mr Paul Burstow
That this House regrets the Government's recent statement outlining the eligibility criteria for Gurkhas to reside in the United Kingdom; recognises the contribution the Gurkhas have made to the safety and freedom of the United Kingdom for the past 200 years; notes that more Gurkhas have laid down their lives for the United Kingdom than are estimated to want to live here; believes that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 should be treated fairly and in the same way as those who have retired since; is concerned that the Government's new guidelines will permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle whilst preventing the vast majority; further believes that people who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live here; and calls upon the Government to withdraw its new guidelines immediately and bring forward revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats