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Harman pledges to relax Gurkha rules
Nicholas Cecil07.05.09
Harriet Harman today announced that concessions would be made to end the Gurkha row.
The Commons leader gave a cast-iron pledge that the Government would relax the restrictions on the former soldiers being allowed to settle in Britain. She told MPs: “We did take action in 1997 but the public and Parliament want us to do more and we will.”
Downing Street appeared to signal key aspects of the new policy would effectively have been decided within weeks as a backlog of 1,500 cases of ex-Gurkhas seeking to remain in the UK is dealt with by the end of this month. But Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, and who helped inflict a defeat on the Government on the issue last week, today urged Gordon Brown to clarify what he agreed in his meeting yesterday with actress Joanna Lumley who is spearheading the Gurkha campaign.
She claimed the Prime Minister had pledged to come up with a solution by the end of the month. But Downing Street said new proposals were only due “by the summer recess” which starts on 21 July.
Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg called on Mr Brown to announce the policy. Mr Vaz's committee has called for all retired Gurkhas who served with the British Army before 1997 to be allowed to settle here.
Reader views (8)
Harriet Harman is and always has been, an embarrassment to politics in general and to the Labour party in particular. Look at them all welcoming the Ghurkas,now they have been shown the way by the wonderful Joanna Lumley. Thank you lady you are Absolutely Fabulous.
- Gerry The Boat, Berkhamsted England.
Little puppet Harman is lying as usual of course! Deport her and you would make room for at least a couple of hundred Gurka's.
- Deport The Government Campaign, London
Another Left Hand vs Right Hand shambles. Harman really is out of her depth. And she really doesn't want to be PM does she?
- Chuck Unsworth, London
Harperson loves her soundbite. Remember Fred the shreds pension and her stupid " Court of public opinion" speech
It will be so wonderful in 12 months to see her & her useless spineless crew defeated nay destroyed by the great British public. Roll on June 2010 !!!!!!!!!!!!
- Mike, London
she didn't dare stick her neck out before; doing so now is both cowardly and redundant.
- Robert, Chiswick, UK
Ah another Labour muppet has jumped on this band wagon while her own boss has betrayed j.Lumley. Who will we see next 'supporting' the cause J.Smith?
- Mike, London England
Looks like Harperson wants to be PM at some point.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Don't bother Harman; just get out; and let others do it for you; they at least, will mean it.
- Mickyinlondon, london
