Today, the unelected Government of Gordon Brown announced new immigration guidelines for Gurkhas who retired from the British Army before 1997. They must now meet at least one of the following criteria:
Three years continuous residence in the UK during or after service;
Close family in the UK;
A bravery award of level one to three;
Service of 20 years or more in the Brigade of Gurkha Rifles;
Chronic or long-term medical condition caused or aggravated by service.
Gurkhas have been part of the Army for almost 200 years and are hand-picked from a fiercely-contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join.
They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 having fought in the two world wars and 45,000 believed to have lost their lives fighting for Britain.
The regiment moved its main base from Hong Kong to the UK in 1997 and the government had argued that Gurkhas discharged before that date were unlikely to have strong residential ties with the UK. Excuse me?? David Enright, the solicitor acting for the Gurkha Justice Campaign, said the government had committed “an act of treachery and betrayal.” There are some 36,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and of this number a mere 1350 currently have applications pending for the right to remain in Britain. Even if all were allowed to stay and their families joined them here, this country would have room for them.
In September last year, Mr. Justice Blake ruled in the High Court that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision. He 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.
Three years continuous residence in the UK during or after service;
Close family in the UK;
A bravery award of level one to three;
Service of 20 years or more in the Brigade of Gurkha Rifles;
Chronic or long-term medical condition caused or aggravated by service.
Gurkhas have been part of the Army for almost 200 years and are hand-picked from a fiercely-contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join.
They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 having fought in the two world wars and 45,000 believed to have lost their lives fighting for Britain.
The regiment moved its main base from Hong Kong to the UK in 1997 and the government had argued that Gurkhas discharged before that date were unlikely to have strong residential ties with the UK. Excuse me?? David Enright, the solicitor acting for the Gurkha Justice Campaign, said the government had committed “an act of treachery and betrayal.” There are some 36,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and of this number a mere 1350 currently have applications pending for the right to remain in Britain. Even if all were allowed to stay and their families joined them here, this country would have room for them.
In September last year, Mr. Justice Blake ruled in the High Court that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision. He 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.
I've asked DH to help me draft a letter to Gordon Brown to register my disgust at the government's decision. I am so incensed by this!! Please copy and paste this into your blogs and sign the Downing Street petition, if you haven't already done so .... http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/justice4gurkhas/
2 comments:
Petition duly signed.
Just signed it!
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