Lib Dems slam Government's Gurkha decision
The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Government's decision on Gurkha settlement rights is as another huge betrayal of the Gurkhas who have served our country. Gurkha campaigners are sickened by the Government's new policy of extending automatic citizenship rights to those who served 20 years. The normal period of service for the majority of Gurkhas was 15 years.
Gurkhas have served all across the world in the defence of our country for nearly 200 years. Over 45,000 died in the two World Wars as part of the British Army, and they are still fighting in the British Army today. But until quite recently, the Gurkhas had no right to citizenship in this country after completing their service in the Army. This rule applied to no other nationality serving in the British Army: just the Gurkhas.
The Lib Dems took up this cause, and in 2004, the Government changed the rules following a major campaign. The change allowed Gurkhas who retired after 1997 (when the regiment moved its main base from Hong Kong to the UK) to stay in this country, but no such right was given to those who retired before 1997. Since that time, Gurkhas and campaigners have been fighting for the same rights for all ex-Gurkha's irrespective of their retirement date.
The Government was forced by the High Court to review its policy on Gurkha settlement rights. In September 2008 Mr Justice Blake, said the Gurkhas' long service, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown all pointed to a "moral debt of honour" and gratitude felt by British people. He ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision.
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "Are there any moral principles left in this hollowed-out Government? People who are prepared to fight and die for this country should be entitled to live in this country. Yet even this basic principle is broken by a Government desperate to cover its back and wriggle out of its commitments. This is the week Labour lost its last principles: now turning its back on brave and loyal soldiers who simply want to live in the country they love and served." Nick Clegg has decided to use the Opposition Day debate in Parliament on Wednesday 29th April to call (again) for a fair deal for Gurkhas.
The Campaign for Gurkha Justice led by Joanna Lumley is now working with renewed determination. Long standing Gurkha Justice campaigner Peter Carroll said: "This is a sickening ruling by the Government. The right thing to do was to offer citizenship to any Gurkha who had served more than 4 years in the British Army: the same conditions as any other soldier. But they have introduced rules that will mean many thousands of Gurkhas are still excluded and discriminated against. We will be continuing this fight through Parliament and the courts to get a final fair settlement policy. Hundreds of thousands of people have already signed up to support the Gurkha Justice campaign, and I urge all those who support the Gurkha's cause to do so."