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Lumley bust-up with Minister over Gurkha 'betrayal'
Nicholas Cecil7 May 2009
Furious Joanna Lumley clashed with a minister today after five former Gurkhas were told they could not settle in Britain.
Letters of rejection were sent this morning to the retired soldiers just 24 hours after the actress put her faith in Gordon Brown to resolve the row.
Amid confusion and fury, Lumley was said to have confronted immigration minister Phil Woolas when they bumped into each other at the BBC studios at Millbank, near Westminster.
She was described as clearly angry and to have torn a strip off the embarrassed minister.
Peter Carroll, of the Gurkha Justice Campaign, voiced the fury of the former soldiers. He said: “Betrayal is not strong enough, it's almost treasonable. You don't treat people who have been wounded in battle to defend your country in this unbelievable way.”
In a frantic attempt to calm the row Mr Woolas appeared on television to promise that all five test cases would be granted approval — opening the door to 1,500 similar applications. “I can give you reassurance that these cases will be settled in favour of the Gurkhas,” he said.
Downing Street added: “These letters have no practical effect. Any decisions reached under the old criteria will not be implemented.”
It was unclear whether Mr Woolas had known about the letters or approved them.
They were sent to Falklands veteran Lance Corporal Gyanendra Rai, who was injured fighting for the 1st Battalion of the 7th Gurkha Rifles, Deo Prakash Limbu, Chakra Prasad Limbu and a veteran's widow and Birendra Man Shrestha.
They stated: “I have carefully considered your case against the criteria and regret to inform you that you do not qualify for settlement under the current guidance.”
The letters, sent out by a Home Office official, went on to explain that the Gurkhas' cases would be reviewed again once new criteria promised by 21 July was decided. “While you do not qualify for settlement now, your case will be reconsidered when the next stage of reform has been finalised and I shall write to you then,” they said.
The Home Office was left scrambling to defend what appeared to be an astonishing own goal.
In addition, it said the border and immigration agency had agreed today and yesterday to allow 89 ex-Gurkhas to settle in Britain as officials work through a backlog of 1,500 cases.
But the furore today is yet another blow to the Prime Minister after a series of crises over the Gurkhas. These include his first Commons defeat, with Labour rebels backing calls to scrap current immigration rules. Lumley also revealed that she had written three times to Gordon Brown without reply.
Reader views (35)
Ms Lumley What about all the other nations who fought for Britain in all its battles
around the world in the past.Come on BBC lets have a proper debate and no sensors
please I have to listen to SKY news to get the true picture of things happening around the world not repeats & repeats that the BBC pours out George
- Mr G. J. Lester, Sutton Cambs, 08/05/2009 15:03
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Ms Lumley has done Mr Brown up like a kipper! She has him cornered, irrespective of the outcome of the Gurkha question. Good for her - maybe she'll help us boot Brown out, perhaps send him to Nepal.
- Neil, London, London UK, 08/05/2009 09:51
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Is anyone suprised that JL has been betrayed by Brown? Never mind the Gurkhas (they all should be allowed to stay having fought for us in war) Brown has betrayed us all over the years.
- Mike, London England, 08/05/2009 09:48
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Having served with Gurkhas in Malaysia I do support their cause and I would not want any other regiment on my flank and that includes other British regiments but having experienced trying to bring my grandchildren and their British Citizen father to the UK from the USA I was shocked to see who is allowed in and who is not ie a child who's Father or Mother is not British but is adopted by a Gay person who has a British partner is allowed, so one Gay Brit is allowed to sponsor 2 foreigners and one of which no one knows who the parent is Osama Bin Laden perhaps?
- E.Reed, Bournemouth,UK, 08/05/2009 09:48
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What a treat watching our Immigration Minister squirm in front of the very capable Joanna Lumley.
Baa Baa Black Sheep have you any WOOLAS
Yes Sir Yes Sir three bags PHIL !!!!!
- Mike Kimmins, Bexley, Kent, 08/05/2009 09:46
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Brown has created over 300 active terror plots, after letting in over a million unchecked under his open borders policy. Why does Brown want to stop Gurkhas having the same rights to live here as Commonwealth soldiers? They love this country and are prepared to die for us. Yet Brown wants to stop them, and let in thousands who hate this country, want to murder us, bring terror into the UK, and make it subject to sharia law as under the Taliban. Brown demands the supporters of sharia are let in and we respect 'their culture'. He even pays them welfare for all their wives and families.
He wants likely Labour voters, who take UK tax welfare. he wants to keep out disciplined hard working loyal soldiers who are unlikely to be hooked by his State handouts, and likely to vote conservative.
- Labourout, birmingham, 08/05/2009 09:42
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What is overlooked is the fact that Ghurkhas form regiments in both the British and Indian Armies and one of the reasons the UK doesn't offer them residence is so that any potential recruit doesn't choose one over the other just because of the potential benefits. Pay and pension are effectively harmonised for similar reason.
That being said I would happily see my tax moneys go to support these proud, honest and brave people. Furthermore I, like many others, would be happy for them to reside in the UK over most if not all other people in the World.
- Mark, South-East London, 08/05/2009 09:39
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Let's do it Harry Hill style.
Gurkhas v illegal immigrants - FIGHT - winners stay in the UK
- Bj, London, 08/05/2009 09:32
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Mike in London - you wonder what would happen if all 100,000 Gurkhas and their dependents arrived in the UK. I, and the rest of the legitimate population don't care. These people have served OUR country - potentially and actually putting their lives on the line for us and for the people that our armed forces have defended. My experience of the Gurkhas (I am a military child) was more than positive. Most of them spend not months but YEARS away from their families when they serve. For their troubles they receive derisory pensions and for some time were refused entry to the UK. And yet, after 12 years of this Government with its open borders, we have 10s of thousands (more likely 100s of thousands) of illegal immigrants who arrive on holiday/student visas and promptly melt into the population, never to leave the UK. These are the people who we should be concerned about, not the Gurkhas. It is because of these illegal immigrants and the fewer legal ones who are here purely for the free ride that the population of the UK is squarely behind the brave men (and their families) who served with the Gurkhas.
What this Government should be hounding is the army of illegal immigrants not the Army.
- Jane, London, 08/05/2009 08:18
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Ann Louisa of Southampton wrote "Everyone in this country (Except Gordon Brown) want the Gurkhas here".
I hate to be boringly democratic, but are you absolutely SURE about that, Ann? ...Don't you think that perhaps the citizens of this overcrowded island ought to be ASKED first?
- Croyboy, Croydon, 08/05/2009 07:58
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Brown and his Labour must be bonkers...these people have served and defended England and yet are not allowed to settle there.
Gordon ! why not profit of this occasion to get things straight.
- Edouard. B, Toulouse, France, 08/05/2009 07:37
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We would have plenty of room and money for the Gurkha's if we deported these mainstream crooked politicians, the bankers and the overpaid civil servants.
- Lets Deport The Government Campaign, London, 08/05/2009 01:47
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Am I the only one irritated by Ms Lumley's attempt to "twist Brown's arm" in order to influence immigration policy? Would she be prepared to pay for the possible 100,000 people's (including dependents) accommodation, benefits etc.?
- Peter, Watford UK, 08/05/2009 00:48
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Nu Labor = lying snivelling scum not to be trusted. Chuck them out asap!
- James Macleod Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, 08/05/2009 00:27
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Please Mr. brown grant Lumley what she wants. Then we won't have to see this overblown talent-less tart on the news any more.
- Pacifus, Newcastle Australia, 07/05/2009 23:05
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But the really BIG mystery remains.
Where the devil is Miss Myth,
and is she still only the 'acting' Home Secretary?
- Dave, Cumbria, 07/05/2009 21:58
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Every non citizen who served in the Roman Legions became a citizen of Rome, what was good practice 2000 years ago is good enough now. Sorry I forgot this government doesn't do history
- Dave Morris, Sunderland UK, 07/05/2009 21:49
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Would Saxon and/or Geraldine care to define "defence of the UK"? What does that mean, exactly?
- Chuck Unsworth, London, 07/05/2009 21:36
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For - Hereward, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Gordon Brown is not a(non-elected pm)."
In this country the Prime Minister (the first amongst the ministers) is elected. He has been elected to serve in Parliament for his constituency and is then selected to be Prime Minister by the ruling party or by agreement of all parties if necessary.
In this country the electorate do not elect a Prime Minister directly. Therein lies the falacy of the USA government where it is possible to have a President of a different party from the Senate.
- Mb, London, 07/05/2009 21:24
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This government has presided over 12 years of open bordrs, letting in all and sundry without let or hindrance.
However, when people with some merit and public support make an application to stay, they are rejected.
Something is wrong, and I believe it is the government - again.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 07/05/2009 21:19
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Geraldine, London. Even if every Gurkha hasn't served in the defence of the UK - they would given the opportunity.
- Saxon, Cowes UK, 07/05/2009 18:17
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These guys have fought for this Country and therefore they should be allowed to stay.
- Caroline, Chatham, 07/05/2009 18:16
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No one is looking at the other side of the argument. I do admire what they have done for Britain but if 100,000 (Dependents included) turned up where would they go.
- Mike, London, 07/05/2009 18:16
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Lumley was rather foolish in trusting this duplicitous government, Gordon McClown and his Britain-hating party hate everything that the Gurkhas stand for.
They have repeatedly spurned their requests to be treated with equal status to servicemen and women from the Commonwealth and will continue to resist giving them ALL the right to live here, whilst at the same time doing nothing to stem the tidal wave of illegal and other economic immigrants.
Brown claimed to have known nothing of the letters sent out to those involved in the five test cases. If this is true he is guilty of yet more monumental incompetence.
This disgraceful episode will be another nail in the coffin of the worse Prime Minister in British history.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 07/05/2009 18:10
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Woolas, eh? Does anyone believe that he didn't know about these letters? Even if he did, just how incompetent is he? Does Brown know about this, or has he still got his fingers in his ears?
- Chuck Unsworth, London, 07/05/2009 18:03
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Peter Carroll is correct: this IS treason. I wrote what I thought about trusting Brown (non-elected pm)and how he is responsible for this. Get this bunch of irresponsible idiots out. NOW! They have shown just how much honour they have: NONE whatsoever.
Give the Gurkhas their well-deserved right of UK citizenship and setlement in Britain.
- Hereward, Copenhagen, Denmark, 07/05/2009 17:57
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Half of the world is in love with the intelligent, beautiful Joanna, the other half loves the Gurkhas.
Gordon is a moron to make her upset again. We hate him for this and for other things like national debt, pension funds, no boom and bust, gold resorve, lies and more lies. Shame on you, Gordon
- Out With Brown, London, 07/05/2009 17:54
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I think Joanna should represent the forces members who served prior to 1975 and have been denied a pension. In many cases people have served over fifteen years and have got nothing. Compare and contrast with snouts-in-the-trough MPs' with a similar service to the Crown.
- Fred, Horsham, 07/05/2009 17:42
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What else do you expect from this slimy government. Obviously they now have no respect for the democratic principle as they wallow in the twlilight of their power base.
- Robert El-Cid., Hull, East Yorks.,, 07/05/2009 17:31
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Well done Joanna. she really is such a role model. so committed and honourable.
- Jonny, London, 07/05/2009 17:19
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Joanna Lumley and the Gurkhas have now learnt the hard way, do not trust Gordon Brown!!
Don't worry, he will soon be gone and then the Gurhkas will be left to live here in peace.
Everyone in this country (Except Gordon Brown) want the Gurkhas here.
And Brown doesn't count, because he isn't even an elected prime minister.
- Ann Louisa, Southampton, 07/05/2009 17:08
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I really like Joanna Lumley but thought yesterday she was being rather foolish to trust Brown & Co who do not give a dam about anyone but themselves . This goverment are a selfish greedy bunch and the soooner they go the better !
- Linda Cliff, London, 07/05/2009 17:03
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I agree entirely that if people have served time defending the UK they should be allowed to live in the UK. However, are we 100% certain that every single Gurkha requesting leave to remain in the UK has in fact served time with the British Army defending the UK? We are an island with a finite amount of space and our infrastructure and resources are overstretched already. As much as we would like to accommodate everybody wanting to move to the UK we can't. There have to be limits.
- Geraldine, London, 07/05/2009 16:50
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An appaling, slimy, gutless government, Miss Lumley is a true Lady. Of course the Gurkha's should be allowed to settle here.
- Roger, london, 07/05/2009 16:43
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I wonder if Ms Lumley could be persuaded to take up the cudgels on behalf of the disabled people in this country.
They need somebody with her conviction to speak on their behalf.
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 07/05/2009 16:42
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