Go the Gurkhas!

[JimC]

Jubilant Gurkha veterans won the right to settle in Britain Thursday, after a government climbdown in the face of a campaign spearheaded by Indian-born actress Joanna Lumley.

Gurkhas victorious in immigration claim
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Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said all of the Nepalese fighters who retired before 1997 and have served at least four years with the British army can now apply for residency.

Smith's announcement was greeted by an explosion of applause and victory cries by former Gurkhas and campaigners including Lumley who were gathered outside the House of Commons.

An emotional Lumley praised Prime Minister Gordon Brown, calling him a "brave man who has made today a brave decision on behalf of the bravest of the brave".

"This will be received in Nepal today with the greatest joy and gratitude," she said, standing in front of Gurkha veterans in wheelchairs wearing their British military service medals.

Brown said in a statement the new rules recognised "the unique nature of the service given to the UK by the Brigade of Gurkhas".

Under the outgoing rules, Britain would only grant residency rights to 4,300 ex-Gurkhas, falling short of demands that all 36,000 of the Nepalese who served with the British army before 1997 be eligible.

But announcing the new policy, Smith told lawmakers: "All former Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and who have served more than four years will now be eligible to apply for settlement in the UK.

"On the basis of the figure of 10,000 to 15,000 main applicants that has been suggested by Gurkha representatives, I expect to be able to welcome these applicants and their families over the course of the next two years.

"I'm making resources available... to do this and I'm making it clear there should be no time limit on these applications."

The government was forced to change its stance after it suffered a defeat on the issue in a Commons vote last month.

Smith said ministers had undertaken to "respect the will of the House" and drawn up the new rules.

She reiterated that Gurkhas who retired after 1997 -- when their base was moved from Hong Kong following the territory's handover from Britain to China
-- already had the right to settle here and more than 6,000 had done so.

Britain's border authorities have been instructed to process 1,400 outstanding applications from former Gurkhas "as a matter of urgency by June 11," she added.

Successful applicants will be entitled to bring with them their spouses and dependent children under 18.

Lumley, the star of cult TV comedy "Absolutely Fabulous", said: "It is one of the happiest days of my life. This is a landmark day we will never forget.

"It is so thrilling to have overcome something which has gone on for so long."

Lumley said she was proud to be regarded as a "daughter of the regiment" because her late father had fought with the Gurkhas.

More than 100 veterans attended an impromptu garden party at Brown's Downing Street office after the announcement, where the prime minister described the Gurkhas as the "bravest of all".

Their campaign has also been backed by the opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Some veterans last year returned their medals to the British government in ne of a number of high-profile protests.

As public anger built over the government's original position, Brown agreed o hold a private meeting with Lumley over the issue.

And amid extraordinary scenes, she ambushed Immigration Minister Phil Woolas in a TV studio after several veterans were told their residency applications had been rejected.

The Brigade of Gurkhas was formed in 1948 from Indian army regiments.

About 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain in World Wars I and II and more than 45,000 have died in British uniform. Around 3,500 currently serve in the British army, including in Afghanistan.

[Feck]

Not letting Gurkha's move here was one off the nastiest plans I had ever heard .

[klr]

It's a pity the UK government had to be dragged kicking and screaming into doing what was obviously the correct thing, but better late than never.

And you don't want to mess with these guys:

[CJ]

Better late than never. Despicable behaviour on the part of Brown and his cronies, but then what else should we expect.

[Pappa]

Better late than never. Despicable behaviour on the part of Brown and his cronies, but then what else should we expect.

On a par with not letting the Montserrat British passport holders entry to the UK when their island was shafted by a volcano.

[AshtonBlack]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

[cowiz]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

Goat curry - fuck yeah, nom nom nom....

[Bella Fortuna]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

Goat curry - fuck yeah, nom nom nom....

Do you do a search for "curry" every time you sign on?

[cowiz]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

Goat curry - fuck yeah, nom nom nom....

Do you do a search for "curry" every time you sign on?

I search for "goat". Sometimes I'm lucky and I get curry too...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

Goat curry - fuck yeah, nom nom nom....

Do you do a search for "curry" every time you sign on?

Are you implying he currys favour? Or just favours curry?


Err... and back on topic in this SERIOUS thread - the government lost more popular support over this issue than anything the economy could throw at it - they were talking about a couple of thousand Gurkhas that could have come here FFS - there are ten times that many illegals entering Britain every week.

[AshtonBlack]

It was a PR disaster for this "prime" minister.
It beggars belief that they hadn't thought through the policy.
In total, there are perhaps, 36k Nepalese citizens who have served at least 4 years in the Army. It is a small cost to allow them to live here and having seen them in action, I can rest assured they would a) work hard, b) pay their taxes without question or complaint and c) be a GREAT asset to this country!

[Pappa]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

Goat curry - fuck yeah, nom nom nom....

Do you do a search for "curry" every time you sign on?

I search for "goat". Sometimes I'm lucky and I get curry too...

Kid goat meat is so tasty it makes me want to eat them every day.

[JimC]

I have worked along side Gurkhas for many years. They deserve to live here more than a great majority of native brits. (IMHO)
(Plus, goat curry! Nom Nom Nom )

Goat curry - fuck yeah, nom nom nom....

Do you do a search for "curry" every time you sign on?

Are you implying he currys favour? Or just favours curry?


Err... and back on topic in this SERIOUS thread - the government lost more popular support over this issue than anything the economy could throw at it - they were talking about a couple of thousand Gurkhas that could have come here FFS - there are ten times that many illegals entering Britain every week.

And also they and their kukris will be on the side of reason when the final, inevitable bloodbath takes place...