Stone Liberal Democrats

Nick Clegg Hails Historic Victory for Gurkhas

The Liberal Democrats led a defeat for the Government in a vote on the rights of retired Gurkha soldiers to live in the UK.

MPs voted to condemn the Government's guidelines that would have seen just 100 of the thousands of retired Gurkhas facing deportation being allowed to remain here.

The vote is the culmination of a long campaign by the Liberal Democrats and Gurkha pressure groups, which has seen the Prime Minister challenged repeatedly on the issue by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg, and thousands of Gurkhas handing their medals to Mr Clegg to pass to Gordon Brown in protest at their treatment.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said: "This is an historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely.

"This Government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn't understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake.

"People who are willing to die for our country, should be allowed to live in our country.

"The Government must listen to Parliament and scrap these shameful rules immediately and grant justice without conditions to all retired Gurkhas."

Christine Tinker, founder member of LibDem Friends of the Armed Forces and parliamentary candidate for Stone, said "I am proud that the LibDems have led the way in defeating the government to make sure that the Gurkhas are treated properly. Having served in the armed forces and lost my husband during his service, I feel very strongly that people who have served their country should be honoured and their willingness to serve recognised. Nick Cleggs actions have ensured that the Gurkhas will be treated fairly at last."

ENDS

Contact: Christine Tinker - 07970 577614

Embargo: Immediate, Friday 1 May 2009

Notes to Editors

1. A photograph of Nick Clegg taken immediately after the vote is shown.

2. 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 condemns 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.

2. On 19 March 2008, Nick Clegg raised the issue in Prime Minister's Questions:

Mr. Nick Clegg (Sheffield, Hallam) (LD): Two hours ago a retired Gurkha soldier handed over this medal to me in protest at the Government's refusal to grant him British citizenship. Does the Prime Minister know what it means for a loyal British soldier to give up a medal that he won for his long years of service to this country? Can he explain to the Gurkhas why on earth he believes that Gurkhas who have served in the Army after 1997 are worthy of British citizenship, but those who served before that date should be deported?

The Prime Minister: Let me also pay tribute to the Gurkhas. They have been in existence since 1815. They have served loyally in every part of the world, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they fought with Prince Harry over the past few months. They have done a tremendous job for our country. We are the first Government to have given Gurkhas the right to a pension, for those serving after 1997. We are the first to have given equal pay to the Gurkhas. We are the first to have dealt with the problems of married accommodation, and we are the first to say that after four years in the Army they will have the right to residence in this country. Those are changes that we have brought about. Why is the date 1997? It is the date that the Gurkhas, once based in Hong Kong, moved to be based in Britain. That is why we are honouring the promises that we made for the period after 1997.

Mr. Clegg: That is a technical argument on a moral issue. It is a spectacular misjudgement from the man who signed the cheques for the Iraq war, but has never had the moral courage to take responsibility for it.