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Knives out for Gordon Brown over Gurkha ban
Joe Murphy30.04.09
Gordon Brown closed the door on thousands of Gurkha veterans today, saying Britain could not afford to give them all homes.
Facing a Labour revolt and cross-party demands to let more settle in the UK, he offered to review his stance and to perhaps relax it in “stages”.
But Mr Brown insisted the cost of running an open-door policy was too great during the recession. “For us to guarantee £1.4 billion would be a very big sum indeed,” he said.
His comments infuriated campaigners for the Gurkhas fronted by actress Joanna Lumley, who led a delegation to the Commons today.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats joined forces for a vote against Mr Brown, hoping to trigger a Labour rebellion. At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Brown came under fire from David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
Although the Prime Minister was careful to say his mind was open on the Gurkhas, an issue championed by tabloid newspapers, he said he was unable to meet their demands.
“I respect the fact that this is a matter of great concern for everyone in the country,” he said. “We have got to balance our responsibilities to those who have served our country with the finance that we need to be able to meet these obligations and not therefore base our offer on money we cannot afford.”
The Home Office wants to limit the number of Gurkha veterans allowed to settle in Britain, prompting charges of “betrayal” by campaigners. The High Court ruled last year that government policy on older Gurkhas was unlawful and last week the Home Office created a category of those who could show 20 years of service, bravery medals and injuries from their service.
Mr Brown said the rules would allow 10,000 Gurkhas and their families into the UK, but some 36,000 who served before 1997 have been refused.
Labour MP Martin Salter said the Government risked defeat: “This completely disgraceful decision does a great disservice to the brave Gurkha soldiers who have willingly risked their lives for this country.”
Lib-Dem leader Mr Clegg said Mr Brown's promise of a review was inadequate. “It's the answer of a man who seems to know he is doing a shameful thing but hasn't the guts to admit or change it,” he said.
Mr Cameron proposed a points system for Gurkhas. He said government plans “neither honour our obligations, nor will command public support”.
Reader views (58)
If every body is welcome why not to spread everybody around all the UK and not just only in England? are we UK or not?
- Yohara Robby, London
If we can get past the rose-tinted romanticism, perhaps people might see Ghurkhas for what they are: mercenaries.
Fierce fighters, yes. Dogged combatants, definitely. But what they do, they do for a foreign regime (i.e. the UK), and for money. They are not British, their offspring are not British, they are simply – no offence – hired help.
Temps.
Sorry to inject a dose of reality into everyone’s flag-waving celebrations, but it’s time for some objectivity.
- Sam Webster, London
Being a Nepalese,I would like to thank Mr.David Cameron,Ms.Joanna Lumley,Mr.Nick Clegg and the entire British people from the Bottom of my heart to support the Gurkha Solders to live in Britain if they wish.God bless you and your country.You gave a good image of your country that it can correct those mistakes which was made.
- Prakash Timalsina, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
NuLab has turned the UK in to an asylum/immigration/welfare lavatory and yet those who would fight and die for us are turned away.
Welcome to Brown's Britain.
- Undercover Elephant, London, UK
Absolute disgrace. The Gurhhas have put their lives on the line for this country. So Gormless Gordon is willing to spend billions on feeding and housing illegal immigrants and bogus assylum seekers who have done nothing for the country except take money and benefits. 1.4 billion is peanuts compared to what was poured down the drain for the banks and what is wasted everyday by the public sector
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi
The country is over populated,but the Ghukas are most welcome and what fantastic people they are.Perhaps the goverment are upset that all the crap they wanted to bring in and have over the years may now be forced to turn away.Labour may need to try something differrent,like enforcing border patrol.
- David, london
If New Labour served in the Army the entry on their Service Record on discharge would read:
"Lacks Moral Fibre."
Why don't they leave important decisions concerning those who have served the Country, unlike our Government, to those with experience of proper jobs.
- Ex Rgj, London
Browns feeble excuse for not allowing the Gurkha veterans to reside in the UK is based purely on his own massive, if misplaced, ego at the High Courts decsion. He attempts to use the excuse that up to 10,000 Gurkhas with their dependents will overwhelm the resources and finances of the UK. There is at least one statistical solution, round up and throw out 20,000 benefit receiving illegal immigrants for every one Gurkha allowed to enter as they have contributed absolutely nothing to the security or welfare of the UK past or present. The Gurkhas have shown military loyalty to the UK for at least 100 years and should be welcomed here before many from the African, Pakistani and Indian subcontinents.
- Pete, South of England
Gurkhas in, Scots out!
- Annabelle, london
This Government has it all badly wrong. They refuse to let people In who would lay down their lives in Battle for Britain. Turn up as an economic refugee then they will let you in to ponce off our system and do F all for us!
- Paul Humphreys, Stanford le Hope
The most popular current No.10 e-petition - now with almost 31000 signatures - is for Brown to resign.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/
- John, Dorset, UK
Squiz from Islington, India does not get any aid from Britain!!!!.
- Kam, Harrow UK
Winston, Glasgow. I am certain the Gurkhas and ex-Gurkhas who settle in the UK send money home to their families and villages (as do most genuine hardworking immigrants to this country), thus providing enormous amounts of aid directly to their homelands.
- Pam, East Kent UK
Gurkhas served Britain a darn sight better than Crash, Darling and their band of merry buffoons ... It would be funny it it wasn't so damn tragic.
- Marianne, SW France
Get rid of the ID programme and this will create more than enough money to fund care of these wonderful soldiers!!
- Andy, london
Young Mr Cameron, you should be careful what you wish for. Anyone who has ever been employed by the British Government, whether or not they have visited this country or speak one word of English, will get Mr Cameron's welcome mat.
- Mkpaul, Milton Keynes
Get used to losing Mr Brown
- Ricky, Hackney, London
“We have got to balance our responsibilities to those who have served our country with the finance that we need to be able to meet these obligations and not therefore base our offer on money we cannot afford.”
Ummmm - well how about not spending countless billions on socialist pipe-dreams. The country might then be able to afford real solutions to real problems.
Val Daniels - the problems of the past HAPPENED in the past. All the more reason to correct them now.
- Rogan, Irving
Brown is an utter disgrace to the whole country. When will he have the honesty to recognise this and just go?
- Godfrey, london
This despicable act of heartless treason and cowardly betrayal by Gormless Clown and his Nu-Liebour sham of a government is not surprising at all.
FOR GOD'S SAKE GORDON BROWN - RESIGN NOW!!!
- Dan H, Monaco, France
Well what can we say, Labour had another chance to try and gain some credit but blew it out of the water, Gordon Brown just cant seem to do anything right absolutley boring and hopeless one disaster after another in the name of humanity these ghurkas put their lives on the line and the very people they served wanted to evict them ,thanks but you can sod off now it can only happen in Britain what a disaster you could not make it up if you tried George Galloway was right tony blair and gordon brown are cheeks of the one backside.
- James Fennessey, glasgow
#Sylvi
If the Conservatives were so concerned about the Gurkhas, why didn't they remove the restrictions during the 18 years they were in power? It was only in 1997 under a Labour government that any at all were allowed to settle here. Another bandwagon David Cameron has jumped on because he thinks there are votes in it. It now follows that anybody throughout the world who fought for Britain in any war has an automatic right to settle in the UK along with their families and descendants.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Ian Rosen, London. Hear Hear...well said!!
- Margaret Baker, Spalding, Lincs. UK
THEY THROW HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS AWAY ON
IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING FOR BRITAIN,THE GHURKAS HAVE DONE SO MUCH AND THIS IS HOW THEY ARE TREATED.SHAME ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
MY FATHER WAS IN THE (5th ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT GHURKAS )DURING THE WAR,I WONDER WHAT HE WILL SAY WHEN HE HEARS THIS.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
It is a disgrace these proud loyal soldiers who have served this country without question can be treated in this way by a person who clearly has no moral standing and leads a corrupt battalion of fools
- Ian Makin, Twickenham
Having served with the Gurkhas and seen action also with them this Country owes them a great deal, more than money.These men have fought on behalf of of ourselves without even a word of decent....Once a Gurkhas takes out his ''knife'' from his holster blood must be drawn,well Mr Brown hopefully you never experience this,because you will never understand that these people are proud and you Mr Brown are a disgrace that has betrayed their loyalty
- European, Hong Kong China
"Knives out for Gordon Brown over Gurkha ban"
You mean kukries, surely?
- Robert, Chiswick, UK
I regret that it may not be too long before the Prime Minister has to express his condolences in the Commons to the family and friends of a fallen Ghurka soldier. How will he dare, given his apalling treatment of the ghurkas?
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France
Amazing, our government is preoccupied with advising those around the globe about values, morals and democracy, yet we live in a country that has become devoid of any of those qualities.
Its a joke for years we've had slack boarder controls for years that we didn't know how many illegals were getting in and abusing the system. These lovely people however apply through the correct channels, having fought for our country and way of life and are not allowed to come in.
This is about respect Brown and you have none!
- Carl, London
Its disgraceful and shameful!
These loyal men who serve and carry out dangerous tasks at war and risk their lives for this country so that the British government can 'reep the glory' of winning the Falklands war ect for example.
What does Mrs Thatcher have to say? Surely she or her daughter could suport Joanna Lumley to get the Gurkhas what they deserve.
If more was done by Mr Brown to prevent 100s of people entering our country who aledgedly sign on to claim false benefits and get NHS treatment free, then fly home 'with our' hard earned taxes.
Maybe the finances of the country could afford for these brave Gurkhas to stay!
- - Sylvi, christchurch dorset
I do not understand why leaving their homeland is good...when they leave what happens to that part of the world...will there be any Gurkhas left when they bring all their dependents over to draw a force from?
I think they do receive pensions for service and wages...they do not work for free AFAIK.
There was never an open policy agreement when they joined up they could settle here with dependents. They knew that and still joined up. The argument is blurred because of how brave they are, which is unquestionable. To be honest we should not be employing mercenaries anyway under UK law. The are not UK citizens so that is what they are. The legislation needs set once and for all and have done.
It is not about money for me. The money it would cost to bring them here would be better invested in their own homeland by us in gratitude for services rendered. That way the Gurkha people keep their ethnic identity fully intact and it does not become diluted. This would simply create a drain of strong working men and their families from their homeland - and for what? It is not any better here, they will find it hard to find work with no UK skills, not to mention to learn the language fully etc...spend the money as a thank you in their own land. Give them as a people a thank you from UK plc as the civil servants like to call us tax payers.
- Winston, Glasgow
Surely on a law of averages labour will finally get something the right way around.
Immigrants who have done nothing/can do nothing for the country who refuse to integrate into society - doors open.
Immigrants who have served the country and provided it with some of its heritage - doors closed.
Sorting out the antions debt and financial troubles - spend a little more.
Creating more jobs - save banks, allow companys to flounder as a result and render thousands unemployed.
Improve public transport - buses every ten minutes on main roads but rural areas axed and left unserviced.
Surely labour are bound to get one thing accidentally right one day...
- Bradley, Leeds, UK
Don't have room, but you seem to find it for terrorists, rapists and murderers and of course illegal immigrants.
Gordan please explain to me, why these people are getting preferential treatment to the Ghurkas.
The sooner you and New Labour are out the better, never to return again.
- Malc, London,England
How many tens of thousands of so called 'asylum seekers'have Brown and Blair let in to Britain in the last 12 years? And how many of them have risked their lives for the rest of us?
Surely,if we kicked some these 'political refugees' out,we could afford to pay to re-settle the Gurkhas,who have risked everything for our freedom for many years.
- Jerry, Winchester
What a load of sanctimonious clap trap. We can afford to spend billions on righting the mistakes of our banking system, without making the offenders pay. We can allow over 2 million economic migrants settle in this country, without confirmation they can work or even add anything to our communities, and yet we cannot allow the Gurkhas to stay because of a pitiful amount of money. What would have been the response if the Gurkhas said they cannot go to war beacause they cannot afford it.
As an ex serviceman, who PROUDLY served my country for near on 20 years, I am totally disgusted at this attitude and the treatment of these heroic men. If I was still serving, I would love to have the right to strike, because over this issue, I would. Why are these decissions being made by people who have never faced the enemy. This government was very quick to send our armed forces to war. now its payback time.
- Stewart Jackson, Dagenham, Essex
No but we can give ,housing to all those spongers that come here and bleed the state dry. These people have no interest in this country except for the handouts they readily get.
- Derek James, Birmingham UK
Perhaps if they wore Burkhas, were caught in afghanistan fighting british soldiers, on the pretext of they caught the wrong plane going on holiday, they would be allowed to settle here in their thousands, together with sundry and varied family members , and then they could start plotting to blow us all up as well!
- Ken Meredith, Skipton
Stop giving aid to India and Pakistan who are both rich enough to develop nuclear weapons and space programs, stop the 10,000 plus pakistani students from coming here and with the savings let the Gurkhas in if they want. Put them somewhere rough or with a current immigrant problem and perhaps they'll sort that out for us too.
- Squiz, Islington
I'd gladly put my hand in my wallet for a Gurkha; not so for the scrounging, conning false asylum seekers who find themselves at the front of every Housing/NHS/Benefit queue over and above those who have already contributed and whom our unelected and useless Prime Minister puts above those who have fought for and bravely died for this Country.
Call up these asylum seekers to the Colours and they'll leave here quicker than they arrived.
Kipling wrote of the sad fortunes of soldiers in the 1800's; this particular piece finishes his 'Tommy' and is as relevant today as it was then:
For it's Tommy this an' Tommy that, an "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy aint a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
Well done Miss Lumley and well done Gurkhas everywhere; the British people support you, even if our crummy double standard government doesn't.
- Paul, London
Once again, I'm confused by Gord Helpus's ( the Joker from U Tube)logic. After a call for an amnesty on illegal immigrants, we were told that they would make a positive contribution to this country by getting jobs, paying taxes and the like, and not become a burden on the state.
Funny then, that a people with true moral fabric and an ability to distinguish as to what is right or wrong, and who in my opinion would be more likely to be self reliant, are considered only to be a burden on the state.
- Alan, carlisle uk
its a disgrace there is people in this country here now preaching hate towards this country getting hand outs while there our gurkhas in our armed forces risking there lives for the well being of our country this is so wrong its unbelevible im ashamed to call my self british
- Ian, kirkby
The answer to the problem is simple. Immediately stop any further asylum seekers and immigrants from entering the UK, get rid of the ones who are already here illegally and sponging off the state, and replace them with the Gurkhas who should rightfully be here.
- Ronnie, Lancashire England
Gordon Brown should resign now after this unreal comment about not affording the gurkha`s.How can we afford the hundreds of thousands that arrive each year by asylum routes,how can we afford the thousands of "students" from Pakistan who disappear once they are in this once great country and the wages and pensions of the 32% of the working population who are employed by the government or local councils? No, i am afraid these brave warriors , who have always been at the front end of our wars, always in the firing line , will have to go to Calais and wait for the next government armistice or get student visas or come in from Rumania and start begging straight away or cleaning windscreens at traffic lights.But the best way is to become a scottish politician.In this way, you are guaranteed a job in Whitehall, a grace and favour flat and payment for a second home,maybe in a nice part of Nepal!!!!! Gordon, for the whole country`s sake go now while we have a little bit to cling on to, before you absolutely ruin this country, you mean eyed,selfish,cowardly idiot of a man.You have no idea how much the whole country hates and despises you.
- Ian Rosen, london , england
An absolute disgrace, got enough money to chuck at banks haven't you Brown?
But it seems you have no shame, but never mind you've got the rest of your life to go over your numerous mistakes. In a political wilderness of your own creation.
- Darren, kent
Personally I don't know why they would want to settle here anyway.
- Steve, London
Another shameful decison by a man who has long ago lost touch with anything outside his own small paranoid world. If Brown had any sense of decency he would have enabled the country to vote on his continuing as PM so one cannot be too surprised at anything he comes up with.
The man has lost it.
I just hope his own backbenchers -the ones with a streak of decency and spines (and there are several) put the ghastly man in his place on this one.
- David, Woodbridge UK
Maybe they should send those able bodies who are receiving benefits most part of their life to serve the country. This possibly solve the MoD human resources problem. Better off they can replace those Gurkhas....
- Sean, London
This poor excuse for a government has granted leave to stay and/or British citizenship to thousands of people who only want the passport as a convenience. There are even some who come here with the specific aim of cauing us harm. The Gurkhas have fought for us, they have been willing to die for this country, and this is how we treat them. If anybody deserves the right to settle here it is these men and their families. Shame on Brown!
- Beatriz, London
Once again Brown has shown the derision and contempt he and his party of buffoons hold for those who defend this nation, whether they are british born or not.
Perhaps the Ghurkas should claim assylum against some fabricated foe, like so many others do!.
Or perhaps become drug addicts, the labour party seems to love drug addicts.
- Buster, Helensburgh, Scotland
Should have hijacked an aeroplane full of holidaymakers.
- Ted, London
The treatment of these men is a disgrace. Why has no one taken the Government to task regarding their criteria that I Gurkha must have served 20 years to qualify when a Gurkha rifleman is only permitted to serve 15 years in the Army! This policy feels like a creation of Sir Humphrey's in an episode of Yes Minister!
- Jane, London
"Maybe the government should think about stopping so many asylum seekers into the country freeloading off them and let the men and women that have served proudly and earned the right to live and fight alongside us in the country they gladly lay ddown their lives for. what have asylum seekers done for us and why cant they seek asylum in other countries."
- Kieran, Arborfield England
Many Gurkha soldiers gave their lives for our country and we are now turning our back on the veterans. If we stopped paying, housing and generally wasting our time on immigrants who have contributed nothing to our country perhaps we could afford to help the people who have.
- Judith Moore, Nottingham, England
Perhaps we can stop the infux of asylum scroungers then if that is the case?
- Steve, London
What is the matter with this prime minister - has he no conscience at all? These brave ghurkas have always been there for us, they are more British than many and have shown a loyalty and dedication to Crown and country. The least we can do is offer a permanent home to any who wish to live here. Shame on you Mr Brown, you really must do better.
- Pam, Camberley UK
Funny how this government can find millions in overseas aid and billions to fight a war in far flung places and let all sorts of trash settle here (thinking of Afghan hijackers as one example) but won't allow the Gurkhas to settle here.Maybe they could give them rooms in their second homes.Shame on you Gordon Brown and this atrocious Labour governement.They are a total disgrace. Pity we don't put their heads on spikes anymore.
- Miles, London, England
Brown & Co can afford 10billion pounds for developing the unneeded and unwanted ID cards, but use finances as an excuse to prevent brave soldiers remaining who laid their lives on the line for the U.K. Roll on, May 2010.
- Phil Jones, London UK
What about all of those who haven't served our country then!.....most off them here sponging off the state and committing crime....the decision about the Gurkhas is disgraceful.
- Rosie, watford
