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Victory for Gurkhas as Lib Dems force Commons vote
April 29, 2009 5:06 PM
Madan Kumar Gurung, Paul Burstow MP and Joanna Lumley after the historic victory was secured
Local MP, Paul Burstow, was celebrating the historic vote in the Commons yesterday which saw the Government defeated on a Liberal Democrat motion demanding justice for the Gurkhas.
As the Liberal Democrat's Chief Whip, Mr Burstow, was instrumental in the decision to force a parliamentary vote on the Government's Gurkha policy.
Mr Burstow met with Gurkha leaders and the campaigns spokeswomen Joanna Lumley in his office to celebrate the Commons victory.
A motion, calling on the Government to change its decision to allow only a limited number of Gurkhas to settle in the UK, was tabled by Nick Clegg and Paul Burstow and a number of their senior parliamentary colleagues.
In the debate the Government's Gurkha policy was challenged by MPs of all parties. Ministers were condemned for writing rules that discriminated against ordinary soldiers.
This was only the forth time the Government has suffered a defeat since 1997. The defeat forced Ministers into a rethink which will grant equal rights of residence to all Gurkhas.
Commenting Paul Burstow 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 Nick Clegg challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, the PM 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."
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