Tonight:
5°c
Lumley: PM gave pledge over Gurkhas
Joe Murphy6 May 2009
Gordon Brown today promised concessions for the Gurkhas by the end of the month during talks with actress Joanna Lumley.
After a meeting in the Prime Minister's office, she said she trusted him to come up with a fair solution.
Describing their discussions as “extremely positive”, she said: “He will come up with a new solution by the end of the month. I trust him. I rely on him. And he has taken this matter into his own hands.”
Lumley said the premier had not given any specific promises on what the new policy would be, but added: “This is a chance for him to do something tremendous and I know he will do it.”
The Prime Minister met her after she revealed she had written three times to No 10 without receiving a full reply.
Downing Street sources said it was a “constructive” meeting where Mr Brown listened carefully but promised nothing. He suffered a major defeat last week when Labour rebels joined Opposition MPs to demand the right for former Gurkhas to live in the UK.
Senior Labour backbencher Keith Vaz has claimed that Cabinet rivalries led to the defeat. He blamed a clash between Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Defence Secretary John Hutton for turning the issue into a PR disaster.
Reader views (8)
He also "pledged" a referendum on the EU constitution...
You can't trust the bloke one iota, infact if he says something it's always prudent to believe the exact opposite.
- Steve, london, 07/05/2009 08:41
Report abuse
The delightful Miss Lumley is displaying good tactics, tell the world she trusts Brown, just how is he going to get out of that - Taking advantage of his ineptitude - wonderful stuff !
- Wills, Soton, 07/05/2009 06:53
Report abuse
Well done Mr Brown for listening and for solving an issues that many care for. We have a fine leader in Gordon Brown, its always worth remembering that no Gurkhas had any rights to settle in the UK before Labour took office. Not only that but Labour increased their wages and doubled their pensions.
Far from not caring Labour took steps long before the media made and issue of it. Where was the Conservatives before 1997 who offered nothing to the Gurkhas at all, why is it taken for Granted Cameron would have acted, Thatcher never did?
- Gary Hills, Stevenage, Hertforshire, 07/05/2009 00:25
Report abuse
i think miss lumley has boxed clever and very gently yet very firmly and publicly shoved mr brown into a very tight corner he may not be able to wriggle out of without serious political self harm in the run up to a general election! well done joanna!
- Tom, leicester, 06/05/2009 22:58
Report abuse
If the Gurkhas are allowed to settle (with some justification), then relatives must be limited to wives and children. We cannot support grandparents etc. as has happened in the past. Some estimates put a total of 100,000 with relatives!
- Peter, Watford UK, 06/05/2009 22:31
Report abuse
To: Joanna Lumley. I am a war baby born in Jan 1940, so when I started my engineering aprenticeship, I spoke to many a soldier that fought on the battle fields of the second world war.
Never once did I here a bad word said against the Gurkhas.
Only praise of renowned skills and bravery.
I got the feeling that many a fighting soldires also owed their lives then as we all do to day. wishing you all well.
Regards, Geoff Clarke
- Geoffery Clarke, Saxmundham, Suffolk. UK, 06/05/2009 18:32
Report abuse
I do hope the lovely Miss Lummley got it in writing, so that we can PROVE he's a liar when it doesn't happen. But then he'll still deny it.
- Lezli Taubler, London / UK, 06/05/2009 17:40
Report abuse
Miss Lumley is doing a great job,but she get her feet back on the ground and dont trust Brown as far as she can throw him
- Paul, Grimsby,England, 06/05/2009 17:26
Report abuse
