Gurkhas Champion Smeared by UK Govt

[b.c.molin]

Actress Joanna Lumley has again gone into battle against the British Government for her beloved Gurkha vetrans as well as her self.


British Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised to Joanna Lumley yesterday for what she called a smear campaign by one of his ministers over her championing of the Gurkhas.

Kevan Jones had attacked the actress's 'deathly silence' on the Nepalese soldiers' welfare since she forced a government climbdown over their right to settle in the UK.

At a press conference yesterday Miss Lumley, 63, vehemently denied that she had misled the Gurkhas or raised false expectations of a better life in Britain.

Fifteen minutes before she was due to speak Mr Jones, the Veterans Minister, apologised publicly for his comments earlier this month.

Miss Lumley said the Prime Minister had also apologised to her.

The actress last year forced ministers to change the law to allow older Gurkhas who have served Britain to settle here.

But Mr Jones said veterans had been given misleading information about the benefits and support they would receive. He said Miss Lumley had failed to explain the rules to them.

He told the Home Affairs Committee on March 9: 'Her deathly silence, frankly, irritates me.'

Miss Lumley said yesterday: 'The idea that we have somehow lured the Gurkhas over here with promises of paradise is absolutely and completely untrue.

'It has been suggested that I somehow was parachuted in, took the headlines and ran. I think that's a smear.

'It has been suggested that I somehow spread falsehoods to Gurkhas about what they could expect. That is a lie and therefore a smear.'

Charities have warned that Gurkhas have spent their life savings coming to Britain because they mistakenly believe they will be eligible for free housing and benefits.

Mr Jones said: 'I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused to Joanna Lumley by my remarks to the Home Affairs Committee. This was not intended.

'My sole concern is to stop unscrupulous middlemen ripping off and misleading vulnerable ex- Gurkhas who are entitled to settle in the UK when our free service already exists to help them without.'

Sources in the Gurkha campaign said Downing Street officials had contacted Miss Lumley's supporters eight times before her impassioned press conference, begging them to call it off.

Miss Lumley said she was not aware of the phone calls, but added: 'The Prime Minister has told me he thought the world of what we are doing to bring Gurkhas to this country and he's going to do everything in his powers to make sure they have every assistance.'

Downing Street said the Prime Minister had a 'positive' telephone conversation with Miss Lumley, in which he expressed regret over Mr Jones's comments.

Mr Jones had also ordered an investigation into allegations that veterans seeking to settle in the UK had been encouraged to hand over hundreds of pounds before their cases were passed to a London legal firm, Howe & Co.

Yesterday the Legal Services Commission found there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Howe & Co, which led the High Court challenges against the Government over settlement rights.

Some 6,000 Gurkhas have now applied to settle in the UK.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ologises-Joanna-Lumley-Gurkhas-smear-row.html

 

[kronckew]

He told the Home Affairs Committee on March 9: 'Her deathly silence, frankly, irritates me.'

i find it difficult to believe the minister did not know gordon brown, his boss, had requested joanna to work with him directly and had asked her to keep her ongoing participation out of the limelight. either jones is sublimely stupid to carry on this vendetta against her after she publicly showed what a numbty he was during their last public confrontation, or there is some hidden plan to yet again renege on their agreement. with the general election coming up in a few weeks, they should have kept their socialist gobs shut. yet another govt. minister shows they are unfit for their jobs, but they get to carry on with their snouts in the public expenses trough without even a reprimand, let alone a resignation...