Lib Dems slam Government's Gurkha decision
April 24, 2009 2:33 PM
Originally published by South East Region Liberal Democrats
Originally published by South East Region Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats have slammed today's Government decision on Gurkha settlement rights is as another huge betrayal of the Gurkhas who have served our country.
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.
In response to the announcement today, Gurkha campaigners say they are "sickened" by the Government's newly announced policy to only extend automatic citizenship rights to those who served 20 years or more or won one of a handful of medals: the majority of Gurkhas served for 15 years under standard army policy.
You can read the full details of the Government's decision at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/news/factsheet-Gurkha-members.pdf.
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 failed to do this, and introduced rules that will mean many thousands of Gurkhas are still excluded and discriminated against.
"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 at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk. We will be continuing this fight through Parliament and the courts to get a final fair settlement policy."
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: dishonest with the nation about the state of our finances; cheating taxpayers by making MPs' expenses even murkier; and now turning its back on brave and loyal soldiers who simply want to live in the country they love and served."
The Liberal Democrats tabled the following Parliamentary motion on this issue on 14 March 2008:
That this House believes that Gurkhas who serve and have served in the British Army are a credit to the nation and deserve the highest recognition for their bravery and commitment; notes however that Gurkhas who were discharged before 1997 have no right of leave to remain in the United Kingdom or to become naturalised British citizens; and calls upon the Government to revise immigration rules immediately to allow all Gurkhas who have served at least four years in the British Army to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK and naturalisation as British citizen irrespective of their retirement date.
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35416&SESSION=891
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