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Gurkhas may be scrapped over fears that veterans will cost too much
Robert Fox, Defence Correspondent14 Jan 2009
MILITARY chiefs are warning that the historic Gurkha regiment could be scrapped if a landmark legal ruling results in thousands more veterans being allowed to settle in Britain.
Under new rules that are due to be announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in the next few weeks, the rights of former Gurkhas who left the regiment before 1997 are expected to be widened significantly.
The change follows a High Court decision last year which granted five of the Nepalese veterans the right to stay in Britain in a test case victory which led ministers to pledge a review of the rules covering up to 2,000 ex-Gurkhas in the same situation.
Campaigners, whose supporters include Joanna Lumley, believe that full residence rights should now be given to all Gurkhas - who under the existing regulations are only entitled to move to Britain if they served after 1997.
Military officials are concerned, however, that the introduction of blanket residence rights for the veterans and their dependants could leave the Ministry of Defence and British taxpayers with a substantial bill of between £1billion and £3 billion.
One key reason is that any Gurkhas who move to Britain will be entitled to full pensions, unlike the current system when those resident in Nepal receive only about a third of the amount of former servicemen living in the UK.
Additional costs could also be faced by the NHS and other parts of government, but the impact on the defence budget remains a concern.
"This could make the Gurkhas too expensive for the Army," said a senior defence official. "We all acknowledge the fantastic service the Gurkhas give, particularly now in Afghanistan, but they may be too costly. Least of all do we want to decry Ms Lumley's campaign which has shown the public what we owe the Gurkhas."
Insiders warn, however, that if full rights are granted the Gurkhas could become the most expensive infantry regiment in the Army. By some calculations up to 50,000 veterans, relations and dependants could apply to come to the UK from Nepal and other parts of Asia. There are currently 3,500 Gurkhas in the Army.
Under a deal between Britain, Nepal and India in 1947, Nepalese soldiers serving in the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas were to serve for 12 years and then return home to the Himalayas with a bounty and a pension. It ruled out rights to British citizenship.
More a gentleman's agreement than a binding legal document, it was this deal that Mr Justice Blake ruled unlawful and against the human rights of Gurkhas who had served the British Crown. This has led to the new guidelines being introduced.
'Better to die than be a coward'
During the war with Nepal in 1814, the British were so impressed by the bravery of the Gurkhas that, after signing a peace agreement, they asked the fearless soldiers to join their ranks.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Britain agreed with Nepal and India to transfer four Gurkha regiments to the British Army. Since then, the warriors, whose motto is "Better to die than be a coward", have fought for the British all over the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses. They were instrumental in preventing a Japanese invasion of India in the battle of Imphal in July 1944, turning the tide of the Second World War in Asia. More recently they have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Reader views (44)
I think the gukhas did a good job and they deserve all the help they need but maybe they should get the help in there contrey because its so cold and they have to ajust to england and the rules and the language barrier but they should get all the help they deserve
- Raj Kaur, handsworth Birmingham, 06/01/2010 17:48
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"Disband the Gurkhas", Please tell me this is a bad dream? A government that produces such an utterly disgraceful racist and hypocritical idea really is in trouble!! Ask anyone who has served with, or near the Gurkhas ~ or authors of the above comments ~ just how deserving Gurkhas are to remain identifiable members of our Army. They have SO honourably, bravely and loyally served this country. Wake up to your people's feelings, we want them on our side!
Indeed, our whole family are immensely proud our son was accepted into The Royal Gurkha Rifles six years ago.
- Charles H, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Having served in the Army, now I am truly ashamed to be British. I look at the moneyy being spent on pointless projects, computer systems that never worked (nor were ever going to), pensions to MPs, etc, etc, etc.
These very brave soliders put there lives on the line for this Country. How many MPs etc have done that??
- Jeremy E, London, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I don't understand this. Can't we call this racist discrimination?
- Jamal Akhbar, Edinburgh, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Sacrificed life, limbs and sterling loyalty to this country now has a price tag…..Brown and Darling want to save money by limiting the Gurkha migration. Is this how low this government can go….
- Baz, Watford, 06/01/2010 16:48
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What an ignominious end to a regiment so notably honoured in "Carry On Up The Khyber".
- Keith, Kings Cross, London, UK, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Several generations of Gurkhas have served the Crown showng outstanding courage and loyalty. When we allow just about anyone to setlle in this country, it is unthinkable that these loyal, decent people should be excluded.
The British Infantry Regiments are under recruited and therefore the Gurkhas are making up the shortfall. The Army needs them now as before.
I already employ four ex-Gurkhas and I am always happy to fill any vacancies that occur with more of them. They are popular with their workmates, totally reliable and they ask for nothing by way of state support. As far as behaviour and the manner in which they raise their families is concerned, they embrace the standards which we in Britain once did. They make model citizens and they make a positive contribution to our society. I am happy to reccommend them for British Citizenship.
If the government is worried about immigrant numbers (which they should be), they should allow the Gurkhas in and limit numbers from elsewhere.
- Martin Fielding, London, England, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Shame on you, even think about it. Is that the reward I am going to get for serving the Queen and the Country?????
- Ganga Gurung, Maidstone, Kent, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Gurkhas,who spent 200 years for Crown and this country is this a prize now? what a shame? this governtemt has no right to do this decision.
- Roy, dorset, UK, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Typical Labour..God I can't wait to get rid of these hypocritical parasites. The only thing that has meaning for them is their salaries and pensions...
- Henry Crun, Bournemouth, UK, 06/01/2010 16:48
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No one does a better job than the Gurkhas, they are feared by our enemies, and loved by most of us. They give us so much loyalty, I am ashamed by even the thought of disbanding them. I would much prefer to have one of those guys standing next to me than any Labour politician, the Gurkhas you can trust.
- C R Read, Didcot Oxon, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I note the comment that the families of the Ghurkas killed recently in Afghanistan will now have no right to live in UK. I hope that this is NOT true, but I doubt it.
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston, London, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Totally agree with Martin Fielding. One Gurkha is worth a thousand 'asylum seekers'. They are decent, hard-working, moderate people who could only enhance any country they wish to settle in. If politicians had any sense they would pay them to stay here.
- Sarahn, London, UK, 06/01/2010 16:48
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This is so insulting on so many levels!
They would cut off their noses to spite their face by taking draconian measures to stop the immigration of people who have already served and fought for the country, while at the same time leaving the border wide open to people who want to move in and earn moneys (which they then 'send home') and obtain services, who do so only because the government has made it easy for them. The latter number in the hundreds of thousands.
Do the math. They are talking about stopping a small group because it is easier to do. The words lazy, mealy-mouthed, pathetic, and a few dozen more spring immediately to mind.
- Rogan, Irving, 06/01/2010 16:48
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This really stinks of hypocrisy with all governments, no matter who is in power in this country. The Ghurkas have proven themselves worthy of the equal rights and benefits, they have shed their blood for this country, and they have served long enough to have the rights.
- Gary, Sussex, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Sir, I am touched by the support of the British people for the veteran Gurkhas seeking to settle in Blighty--Britain. for twenty years as I grew up in 10 Gurkha Rifles in the British colonies in the Far East I witnessed their sacrifice and total commitment to British command. They never wavered from their oath of an allegiance to the Crown and the Country. They were poorly paid and their pension would not pay the funeral. During the Oath taking ceremony the touched the Union Jack and saluted the picture of King George VI and later Q.E.II. i OTEN WONDERED: What more must Gurkhas do , the love of British to woo? They laid their life for the Crown and Country and are still laying down their lives for the defence and honour ofUnited Kingdom. Two Gurkhas recently were killed in action in Afghanistan and wife and children are facing deportation.Military cemetry in Asia, Europe and North Africa and also in Falkland are resting place for Gurkhas who gave their all for Great Britain. For Gurkhas for all their Loyalty, Bravery and Sacrifice the British Government is abandoning them. Thank you Evening Standards readers. AYO GURKHALI
- Rajen Chhetri, Woking, Suurey,U.K., 06/01/2010 16:48
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Let's gather the serving Gurkhas, march to parliament and end this farcical, useless and offensive government now.
- Pete, Leigh on Sea, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I would much rather have my tax money spent on the Gurkhas than the majority of people living on benefits, in prison or on keeping illegal immigrants in detention centres.
The people who have suggested this, they should be removed from their posts forthwith and people agreeing with it need their heads examined.
For too long this country has relied on the Gurkhas and given them sweet f a in return. These are people who are proud to serve the United Kingdom. It is such a shame that branches of the government don't feel the same way.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 06/01/2010 16:48
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GURKHAS SCRAPPED!!???
this really worries me, gurkhas have and are ready to lay down their life for age old tradition of serving the british crown.... they are scrapping thrm just because they are expensive?? the government thinks that the money is more important than the lives they have given.
When doing the duty the gurkhas have never said NO.
and why is the MPs or wat they call(i dont really kno the british gov. as i grew up in nepal)...
- Santosh Rai, Oxford, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Johnny, London you plead for an explanation - well I have believed for sometime now that NuLab are demolishing the country, then they intend to rebuild in their image. We kid ourselves if we think the government are idiots - all part of the long game !
- Wills, Soton, 06/01/2010 16:48
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All those brave soldiers and their families are surely to God more entitled to British citizenship for all the dedication and loyalty they have demonstrated!
It bogles the mind to think that any other country would dearly love to have the Gurkha serve in their armed forces and yet under the labour government they are now being considered for disposal with just the flick of a finger, Oh what a bunch of hipocrites those politicians are. When are you going to treat them with the respect they have earned as well as the rewards for their sterling service?
- Arthur, London, Ontario, Canada, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Dear all,
I would like to thank you from my heart to the Peoples Of Britain & peoples from around the World for your kind comments and support to us. All you have crystal clear hearts so you have seen this racist discrimination to the Gurkhas by the Labour British Govt. God bless you all.
- Val, Hants, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Having fought alongside the Gurkas, and admired their courage and loyalty I find it very hard to understand why it has taken so long for these men to get satisfaction from our Govt.This country owes a great debt to them,and if it was not for their bravery,courage and loyalty then the likes of myself would be dead,yes my life was saved by one of these men, and like many others who was in my position at the time we owe them our gratitude and lives.Wake up UK Govt.you have no idea what damage you are causing,and remember they are still putting their lives on the line for us to remain a free nation
- Arthur, LONDON, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Sir Ralph Turner once said of the Gurkhas this: "...and at the last I see you unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, never had a country more faithful friends than you" I can tell you that I saw this happen myself in 2008 and know that it is probably happening today in Afghanistan. It is a sham that we have not repaid that friendship. My pride in being British will be destroyed if this happens. It should not happen and it MUST not happen.
Be under no illusion this is not nostalgia. If Britain wants to fight counter-insurgency we cannot afford to loose them. We can not man our Battalions and we cannot produce units where man for man they can communicate directly with Afghans.
- British Gurkha Officer, uk, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I am a serving member of the forces. I have worked on many occasions with the Gurkhas.
Lets look at it this way. On the one hand we have chaps like Abu Hamza welcomed into the country to spout race hate. The press are full of stories of immigrants with (in some cases) houses worth in excess of a million quid, yet they contribute nothing to our society. We also have the Gurkhas. Soldiers who have fought for Britain and proven without question of doubt their loyalty to our nation. If they served before 1997 they are refused the opportunity to settle in our "great" nation. These are people who have proven their worth. They would not sit idly by unemployed out of sheer pride and self respect. If monetary value could be attached to the "cost" of allowing them to settle I can guarantee they would give back far more than was ever spent on them. Both financially and in terms of their moral contribution to society.
In fact if we are splitting hairs there are a number of people native to this island who deserve significantly less than the Gurkhas. Namely those who have never worked yet still claim a reasonable income courtesy of the tax payer. I could throw into the mix Labour politicians claiming obscene expenses, making the above a reality, and creating "broken Britain".
- John Ward, Blandford U.K., 06/01/2010 16:48
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Do not forget that these men are/were willing to give their lives for our liberty so it's a small price to pay.
- Lynda, London, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Does any Senior Civil Servant or Government Official in this country possess any kind of logic, or even a brain?
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I find myself 100% in agreement with Keith Price of Luton...I'm now going to sit down in a darkened room.....
Gurkha's - fantastic -worthy of proper treatment from UK forces.
- Ethan Edwards, UK, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I'm also ashamed. To abandon a few thousand Gurkhas, who have served Britain well.
- A S, Leicester, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Not one single day passes without me thinking there are complete and utter idiots in charge of this Country. Wasting billions is a daily occurrence for Labour and btw most Labour MPs are not worthy of shining the boots of the Gurkha's.
- Roger, Surrey, 06/01/2010 16:48
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If anyone should be entitled to live in the UK, it should be the Gurkhas.
These proud people are willing to give up their lives for this country and should be rewarded for doing so.
If this costs too much, then we should rethink our policy about accepting every waif and stray claiming to be a refugee.
We are seen as a soft touch by these people, who head straight for the UK, bypassing equally safe countries because we offer them a better deaal.
- Andrew W1, London, 06/01/2010 16:48
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I'd rather have the Gurkhas' any day than the spineless top brass who can even think about disbanding this regiment for this of all reasons. To think of the service they have given this country and to be rewarded this way; what a disgrace.
- Keith, Bath, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Bring on all the asylum seekers (?) who will live off the UK tax payer!!!
The Gurkhas who are productive have no rights.They are as loyal to the UK as anyone could possibly expect.
WE DEMAND THEY REMAIN AS THEY ARE DESERVING.
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Please, please, please can someone tell me what is going on in this country. Why are we worried about encouraging these thoroughly hard working honest people from Nepal to enter our country but are more than happy to welcome with open arms some of the horrendous trash walking our streets at the moment...........
- Jonny, London, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Yet again the goverment come up with another clanger. Without theses brave souls the British Army would be in trouble as they can't fill their recruitment requirments. Those in glass houses will never admit this. The Gukha;s never question orders, hard working always loyalto the end. Those who want to settle in the UK never ask for handouts they want to work. I'm honoured to call these barve people mt friends. The hipocrites those politicians are they mad but isn't that part of the job discription.
To all you Ex-Gurka's I thank you (Dhanyabaad AYO GURKHALI)
- Terri - South London Gukha Community Assoc, London, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Thank you to the Ghurkas for their faithful honourable and highly skilled service. You are held in the greatest respect, and deserve decent treatment for the British government.
We wish the the Labour party people had one tiny bit of your skill and dedication. The huge degree of respect we have for you, is matched by the level of contempt for these spinners of deception. Brown cut the Defence budget by 50% at the same time as putting British men and women in danger in 2 wars. He hides and boasts while spinning cons and deception.
The Ghurkas are an example to all.
- Jimmy, dundee, 06/01/2010 16:48
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The government[s] of this country really can't seem to find new ways to lower themselves.
Make no mistake, the Tories would carry through something like this too.
- Mark H, London England, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Jesus. will it never end ? I expect we'll have an islamic regiment with a black flag instead.
- Squiz, Islington, 06/01/2010 16:48
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A single Gurkha is worth more than every single politician in Parliament! They have served with the greatest distinction in the British Army for nigh on 200 years, two world ward and an empire, and their bravery is second to none. The Gurkhas deserve to be treated exactly the same as any other soldier in the Army (Sadly, not well enough these days). The cost cutting of this government is disgusting and has already cost the lives of many soldiers, to disband one of the most established regiments in the Army for cost reasons is criminal. I hope the Gurkhas recognise that it is the government and the the British people, who owe them an enormous debt, who have suggested this. If ZaNuLabour want to save money, cut all the MPs salaries, that'll save us however many millions a year!
Come back, Guy Fawkes! All is Forgiven!
- Chris Lippert, United Kingdom, 06/01/2010 16:48
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It will be a sad day when we desert the Gurkhas. My father was lifted out of No-Mans-Land by a Gurkha in 1915 and came to in a Dressing Station to be told that a Gurkha had brought him in as he saw that the Tommy was only cut up and was alive. He was never able to trace or thank the Gurkha,but supported their Regimental Association all his life. I continue his work as a Voluntary Fundraiser for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. a National Charity No.1103669 supporting Gurkha War Veterans/Widows. I was born in 1922 and would not be alive without the Gurkhas ! God Bless Them.
- Ken Harman (Sq/Ldr, S.N .Rafvr. !940 - 46 ), Reepham, Norfolk, England., 06/01/2010 16:48
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Get rid of labour and Britain needs new prime minister.
Support Gurkhas
- Victor Chemjeong Limbu, Manchester, Preston, 06/01/2010 16:48
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tradtionally the gurkas returned to their country after serving in the army,and had a pension which made them well off there.It seems that all people who served in the british army could be entitled to live in the u.k.also there dependants,does it matter anymore,as people from all round the world live in england principally,but there will be a backlash eventually as the health service,and housing will suffer and lots of the people cannot even speak english,and don,t want to anyway.
- Patrick.J.Toms, bangor, 06/01/2010 16:48
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i think that the ghurkhas have done an amazing and honourable job in this country defending queen and country. they deserve every opportunity to be equal to a united klingdom resident and the same pay as them. i think what has been happening to them is absolutely disgraceful considering their commitment and bravery. GO GHURKHAS!!!!!!
- Kristina, oxford, 06/01/2010 16:48
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Get rid of Labour and keep the Gurkhas. They cost less, are more committed to the UK and are honest.
- Keith Price, Luton, 06/01/2010 16:48
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