Campaigners call new UK migration rules for Ghurka soldiers a “betrayal”

Saturday, April 25th 2009 - 07:12 UTC

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Campaigners for Gurkha soldiers who want to settle in Britain have branded new rules on who could stay a “betrayal”. Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said the changes would allow around 4.300 more former Gurkhas to settle in the country out of the 36,000 who served in the British Army before July 1997.

But supporters of the Gurkhas' campaign attacked the new criteria as “unattainable” for all but 100 Gurkhas and British actress Joanna Lumley said she felt “ashamed” of the Government.

Campaigners said the changes would benefit around 100 Gurkhas, mostly officers, but leave thousands more who fought for Britain unable to come here.

Speaking at a rally of Gurkhas outside Parliament, Ms Lumley said: “The Gurkhas cannot meet these new criteria. It makes me ashamed of our Government. We will fight on. We don't stop. This has been a set back but that is all.”

Immigration rules introduced in 2004 allowed serving Gurkhas with at least four years' service to settle in the UK. But they do not apply to Gurkhas discharged from the British Army before July 1, 1997, when the Gurkhas' base moved from Hong Kong to Folkestone in Kent.

Ragprasad Purja, 43, who served with the Gurkhas for 17 years, said: “It is the saddest day for the Gurkhas and the saddest day for the British Government. I cannot believe that this Government made such a decision. I was proud of my service but now I am very sad.”

Mr Purja, who was discharged after 1997, said he would continue campaigning for the former Gurkha soldiers who have been refused permission to settle in the UK. He added: “It's not justice, so we'll keep on fighting.”

Categories: Politics, International.

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Kieron
This is an absolute disgrace!” We have terrorists, extremists and all kinds of immigrants who have never done anything for the benefit of the UK. (although quite happy to claim benefits FROM the UK)
The Ghurkas have stood by us for many years and fought on britain's behalf, only to be told they have no right to be here unless they have served over 20 years.

I am no longer proud to call myself British!
Apr 25th, 2009 - 08:58 pm 0
Peter
It is significant that we tolerate the presence of 300,000 Tamils, many of whom are still disrupting Westminster, and countless asylum seekers and immigrants of whom a proportion are determined to change our way of life by violent means.
Surely a million or so ex-Ghurka soldiers and their families would be a welcome counterbalance to some of the dross we currently allow in, and it is no less than fair that we should do so.
Apr 27th, 2009 - 04:50 pm 0
Stuart
Yet again, politicians are out of sync with the views and feelings of the people they are supposed to represent. It is about time that they all did nothing for 6 months, except listen to the people of this country; followed by 6 months of review and reflection. It is about time that this country (its elected officers) recognised all individuals and organisations that have supported this country in good times as well as bad and stopped treating them so shabbily. I am ashamed that some of the people who have been elected have no backbone, cannot stand up for what is right or argue against what is wrong, have little fibre and are only too happy to follow the crowd. To stand up for what is right requires resolve or guts (to use the vernacular) and our members of parliament, have again shown the peoples of these fair isles and the world, that they are only interested in themselves and occasionally their party.
Ms J Lumley and the Gurkhas' campaign have my full support and I most sincerely hope they win.
Apr 28th, 2009 - 08:02 pm 0

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