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Lumley: Gurkha plight is a stain on our nation
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor17 Mar 2009
JOANNA Lumley today accused ministers of leaving a "stain on our national character" by failing to honour a court ruling that gives Gurkha veterans the right to settle in Britain.
The actress, a long-standing campaigner on behalf of the soldiers, said it was "offensive" that veterans were dying or suffering in pain while the Government dithered over implementing the ruling from last September.
Lumley spoke out as she joined supporters at the High Court for a new legal bid to force the Home Office to allow up to 2,000 of the Nepalese former soldiers to settle here.
She said: "The ruling last year was clear and the way that successive governments have treated Gurkhas who retired before 1997 is truly offensive and a stain on our national character.
"These are men who have served in the British Army, sometimes for 20 years and more, and some have won our country's highest honours for valour and service."
Today's action follows September's High Court ruling which declared unlawful the Home Office's policy of denying veterans from before 1997 the right to live in the UK.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith promised to introduce a new policy but none has emerged. Campaigners say there has been wrangling in Whitehall about the likely cost.
Reader views (19)
If goverment is the voice of the people, the people are crying let the ghurkas stay... enough said.
- Lee, swindon, 11/05/2009 23:00
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I am so very angry with the British Goverement that they are sending Gurkhas soldiers back home to there country when they have fought and died for the british people why is it that our goverement will allow immigrants in to my country and give them what ever they want they are doing nothing for our economy they can do what ever they wish this is not fair they should go back to there country and leave our Gurkhas stay in this country as they have fought for us for years as they see this as there country to Gordon Brown needs to take his head from out of the clouds and see that he is making the British people very angry.
- Elisabeth Barton, Swansae South Wales, 28/04/2009 12:50
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I am ashamed to call this country "great" Britain....
Our government have used these heros then dumped them!
Id like to know how its ok to dump war heros yet let immigrant criminals run riot over here, even the government don't have a clue how many illegals are here!
What an utter joke this government is......i will never vote Labour again as long as i draw breath!
- Charlotte Rogerson, wigan england, 24/04/2009 12:14
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We hear and we have gor full support form great British citizens and people and we always hope something better for good will come up. However it seems to us Ministry of Defense is like Vampire
- Dilip, Hong Kong, 19/03/2009 00:31
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How is it that immigrants who hate Britain can protest in the streets when soldiers are on parade and Gurkhas who have served Britain get sent back. From here it seems a bit upside down to me.
- Sally, Sydney, Australia, 18/03/2009 07:44
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I think I read this article yesterday, and I am still angry at this disgraceful, mean spirited action, or rather inaction, from our government. It's not the first, or last, example that makes one despair, and wonder if there is any moral compass at all that guides their conduct.
- Miles Heathman, UK resident on holiday in Arizona., 18/03/2009 04:49
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ITS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO AVOID THE RIGHTS OF GURKHA. BUT ITS WHAT THEY WERE DOING ALL THESE TIME AND WOULD NOT LEAVE A SLIGHTESS OF THE CHANCE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
- Yogesh, KATHMANDU,NEPAL, 18/03/2009 04:49
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I presume that the meaning of the word HONOUR wasn't taught to the Cabinet. It's disgraceful that these men and their families are being denied IMMEDIATE entry.
Without their service we would have found it very difficult to have coped in many war zones.
- Frank Ex Raf, BONCATH, WALES, 17/03/2009 23:23
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It just shows how alien and "out of touch" this government is with the people.
This is a shameful embarrassment to all us British, yet, so easily fixed, but will they?
Only if forced and dragged screaming will Mc Broon do anything remotely kind and unselfish.
This is an ongoing tragedy, just let these decent folk in PLEASE!
- George, gillingham, 17/03/2009 19:23
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Another stain on our nation is that people can serve many years in our forces yet be discharged with no pension. A friend of mine started as a RAF apprentice and stayed in until he was 30. He wanted to sign on until he was 55 and thereby qualify for a pension but he was discharged with no pension rights. Its not hard to imagine what an MP would get for a similar service
- Fred, Horsham, 17/03/2009 18:17
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set up gift aid payments to the Gurkha Welfare Trust, at least those of us who care about people can do something while the Government ignores them
- Annie, GUILDFORD, 17/03/2009 17:52
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This government should hang its head in shame after the delays in bringing about legislation to allow Ghurkha veterans who retired pre ’97 the right to stay in the UK. They willingly offer our country help when we need it and the very least we can do in return is to offer them a home.
- Mark Garth, London, 17/03/2009 17:08
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Served alongside Gurkha's. I get a pension they get sent home its a disgrace. I signed Miss Lumley's petition but does this government listen bet your life they don't
- Bill, Belfast, 17/03/2009 16:43
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35 years ago, while in the cadet force at school, I spent a day being trained by Gurkhas. I remember it so clearly, they were very scary. I'm glad they were on our side, and we should do all we can to keep it that way.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 17/03/2009 14:34
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Yes Labour Government give the immmigrants benefits, housing , child allowance etc . Encourage them to sponge of the state . The piggy bank is wide open . But dont of course allow the Ghurkas who have served our nation to settle here. Its just not on. They dont have any human rights and thaey shoud make do with our expressions of gratititude. This so called Governemnt are a national disgrace.
- Peter French, Orihuela Costa Spain, 17/03/2009 14:30
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If the ‘’Gurkha's’’ were dishonourable people, liars, cheats, criminals, and terrorists; they would be allowed to stay in the UK; just by throwing their passports away, saying they were from another region in the world; and then claim Asylum; this always works, and without any hassle at all.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 17/03/2009 14:29
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Miss Lumley, You are to be congratulated in continuing to criticise this appalling Government for failing to honour their promise to, The Gurkha's.
W.Richardson
!939/45 veteran.
- W.J.H.Richardson, Shrewton, Wiltshire, 17/03/2009 14:05
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It is a bad state of affairs, when people who have fought for this country for many years, and been an integral part of our Armed Services are treated this way, and refused permission to live in this country. Yet there are others who have no intentions of helping this country just to sponge off of it, abuse the system and the people, and they are welcomed with open arms.
- E Sullivan, London, 17/03/2009 13:47
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Can this incredible Government get any thing right,and I agreed with every thing Johanna says. They are an absolute disgrace, and it's long over due for a General Election to turf this lot out.
Raymond
- Mr Raymond Ashley, Burtonwood Warrington, 17/03/2009 13:28
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