Gurkhas win right to settle in UK!

Berkley

Berkley

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May 5, 1999
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All Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years' service will be allowed to settle in the UK, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said.

Ms Smith told MPs she was "proud to offer this country's welcome to all who have served in the brigade of Gurkhas". Ms Smith's statement was greeted by cheers from MPs.

She told the Commons: "I'm delighted that we have now been able to agree - across government, across the House and with the Gurkhas' representatives - new settlement rights that all those who have served us so well, so highly deserve."

Under the measures outlined in the House, Gurkhas will be allowed to settle in the UK with their spouses and dependent children under 18.

Ms Smith said she expected to welcome 10,000 to 15,000 applications from Gurkhas over the next two years.

Ms Smith added that the Gurkhas had served the UK "with great courage, sacrifice and distinction and they continue to make a vital and valued contribution to our operations around the world".
Click to expand...
- BBC News - Thursday, 21 May 2009 12:49 UK A victory for the good guys:thumbup:

(OOPS! Could have sworn I was posting in the Cantina - Mods please move with my apologies).
 
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That's great news Berkely. Thanks for posting it. I just hope most of them will meet the conditions that will allow them to remain in the UK. They deserve it at the least, after what they've done.
Cheers
Eric
 
Excellent news! :D If you fight for a land, you should be able to live in her.

John
 
Great! Im pleased to see that the UK made the reght decision! the Gurkhas desirve nothing less!
 
Watched tv news bulletin of announcement: the Government Minister tried her best to spin the decision but the real joy was on the faces of pro-Gurkha campaigners including actor Joanna Lumley.

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

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.

...

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."
 
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