Let the Gurkhas stay: Brown faces revolt from his own MPs over 'pathetic' treatment of brave warriors

By JAMES SLACK and MATTHEW HICKLEY

Last updated at 09:26 25 March 2008


Gordon Brown was facing a growing Labour revolt last night over the Government's "pathetic" treatment of Gurkha veterans.

More than a dozen Labour MPs are calling for an end to the "arbitrary" rule which bars retired Gurkhas from taking British citizenship if they left service before 1997.

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Gurkha

Pride: Gurkha veterans handed back their military medals in a protest at Westminster over the treatment of their fellow-countrymen

The rule, created only four years ago, is being attacked by MPs of all sides. More than 50 have joined a Commons campaign demanding change.

Their call comes amid mounting public anger that Gurkhas are being denied the rights given to hundreds of thousands of foreigners every year and extended to paedophile Raymond Horne at the weekend.

The 61-year-old is beginning a new life in the UK after being deported from Australia following a long line of sex offences against children.

British-born Horne emigrated as a child but never took Australian citizenship, meaning the UK was powerless to stop his return.

Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey, who tabled an early day motion on the Gurkha issue, said: "These people have given immense service and deserve much better than to be exiled. Britain should not be turning our backs on them."

The 13 Labour MPs who have joined the campaign include a select committee chairman and at least two former ministers - Kate Hoey and Glenda Jackson.

They want all Gurkhas with four years or more service to be granted citizenship - regardless of their retirement date. Miss Hoey, a former Home Office Minister, said: "It is just incomprehensible that the Government could get itself into such a ridiculous situation.

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"Every member of the public I speak to understands the service Gurkhas have given this country. To make the right to stay based on such an arbitrary date is just so pathetic that it makes me very angry indeed."

She pointed to the fact that around 2,000 immigrants every day are given National Insurance numbers, which allow them to live and work in the UK.

Yet experts believe only 7,000 more Gurkha veterans would settle in Britain if the laws change.

Other MPs who have signed the motion include former Tory Minister Peter Bottomley, LibDem leader Nick Clegg and his predecessor Ming Campbell.

It follows a rally at Westminster where proud Gurkha veterans handed back their military medals in protest at the treatment of their fellow-countrymen.

Gurkhas have served alongside British troops since 1815 - winning 26 Victoria Crosses.

Campaigners want all retired Gurkha soldiers to be able to live and work in the UK, although they believe the vast majority of the 43,000 denied entry would prefer to stay in their native Nepal.

The cut-off date is 1997 because that was the year when Hong Kong, where the Gurkhas were based, was handed back to China. Since then, the regiment has been based in the UK.

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