Relaxation of Law limiting Gurkas to stay in Britain.

[Heinz Guderian]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/ap...lement-uk-army

I think this is excellent news. The Gurkas are Nepalese who serve/served in the British Army (often with distinction). As someone who spent alot of time growing up in the garrison town of Brecon (South Wales), i had the pleasure of meeting many Nepalese Serviceman and their families. Really nice people and it was always a shame when they were rotated out or had to leave Britain because they were not allowed to stay legally.

Good on the Home Office, but they need to go further. I never met people who loved the UK more than these guys.

[Captain Jin]

That's good to hear. I don't think any foreign folks fighting on behalf of the UK have ever been more steadfast and loyal.

[seal]

I think this ruling is as it should be. I'm curious, does the right to settle in the UK include the benefits of citizenship?

[Sisko]

In my opinion, the steadfast loyalty and incredible bravery displayed by the Ghurkha's to the Crown should entitle them to perminant residence in the UK, with the option of full citizenship if they so desire. The Ghurka's deserve nothing less.

There shouldn't be any doubt or any questions on whether they are allowed to stay or not, their service and dedication to this country means they should be allowed to stay if they wish.

I don't care what any of the politicians have said on the matter, their treatment towards the Ghurka's has been despicable. There's alot of things I hate about today's government in Britain, and this topic ranks high on that list.

[Visna]

Just out of curiousity, anyone know what the BNP thinks of those immigrants in the military?

[Fiyenyaa]

Just out of curiousity, anyone know what the BNP thinks of those immigrants in the military?

I suspect they'd follow the usual policy of non-white = bad.
I also suspect they'd be more than willing to use them in a military capacity.

These men really deserve full citizenship, if they want it.

[GuineaPig]

Just out of curiousity, anyone know what the BNP thinks of those immigrants in the military?

They did inadvertently use those Polish spitfires in one of their propaganda campaigns


I think they probably figure, "You can die for us, but not live with us"

[Yorkshireman]

Good on the Home Office, but they need to go further. I never met people who loved the UK more than these guys.

Definately, but by the looks of the lateset news they still have'nt got it right. Like you say, not 1 single normal person in the UK would begrudge these men and their families from settling in the UK. Its not even an immigration issue, or it should'nt be. It boils my blood that you can waltz in from Rumania or Bulgaria, (just an eg) because they're part of the EU yet men who've served this country don't have an automatic right to stay here.

According to campaigners the govt has put stringent conditions on entry. They just can't do anything right, how can they be so out of touch with public opinion.

Fury over Gurkha settlement plan

Campaigners have reacted with anger to new rules on the eligibility of Gurkha veterans to live in the UK.
The Home Office said that new rules would allow about 4,300 more to settle, but the Gurkha Justice Campaign said it would be just 100.

Actress Joanna Lumley, a campaigner for the Gurkhas, said the announcement made her "ashamed of our administration".

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas denied he had betrayed the Gurkhas, adding: "This improves the situation."

He said: "It has never been the case that all Gurkhas pre-1997 were to be allowed to stay in the country. With their dependents you could be looking at 100,000 people.

"It's simply not true that we have betrayed the Gurkhas. When people read the guidelines they will see the sense of them."

Mr Woolas outlined the eligibility criteria in a written ministerial statement. Gurkhas and their families will be allowed to stay in the UK if they meet at least one of five requirements.

These are three years of continuous residence in the UK, close family in the country, 20 or more years of service, a level one to three bravery award, and a serious medical condition caused or aggravated by service.

Alternatively, veterans can gain residency if they meet at least two of an additional set of three criteria.

These are having been awarded an MoD disability pension but no longer having a chronic condition, having been mentioned in dispatches, and 10 years' service or a campaign medal.

David Enwright, a solicitor representing the Gurkhas, said: "This government, Mr Woolas, should hang their head in shame so low that their forehead should touch their boots.

"This is a disgrace and a betrayal of our armed forces and our veterans."

Dhan Gurung, the first ex-Gurkha to be elected as a councillor in the UK, said the announcement was "insulting to loyal Gurkhas".

He added: "If they want Gurkha soldiers, they should treat them equally."

In September, Mr Justice Blake ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision.

He said the Gurkhas' long service, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown all pointed to a "moral debt of honour" and gratitude felt by British people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8014265.stm

[s.rwitt]

Good news, we should do similar things for the Iraqi Translators that work for us and want to leave with their families. Though I have heard stories of translators being given asylum, I've also heard an equal amount of stories of guys getting denied.

In fact there was a marine at SOI with me that had been an Iraqi Translator for the US Army for four years because he was promised that if he did they'd let him become a US Marine.

[Garrigan]

In my opinion, the steadfast loyalty and incredible bravery displayed by the Ghurkha's to the Crown should entitle them to perminant residence in the UK, with the option of full citizenship if they so desire. The Ghurka's deserve nothing less.

There shouldn't be any doubt or any questions on whether they are allowed to stay or not, their service and dedication to this country means they should be allowed to stay if they wish.

Totally agree. The Romans offered citizenship to those who served in the Army, can we really be so far behind?

To try and prevent Gurkhas from settling in Britain is disgusting, and from the sounds of it the new entry conditions are making that difficult. There were decorated war heroes who were prevented from living in the UK - now thats a disgrace.

[Otherside]

this crap shouldn't have happened after what they did for our country it should be straight forward, i always thought GB wasn't to bad to the troops for example that solider who needed a special kind of house because of injuries and GB basically told the the council to give him the damn house but this is a joke.

[Каие]

@Heinz total Green Party fail. You fell for New Labour spin. Under their criteria less than 100 Gurkha riflemen can settle. That is out of 37,000 who have served since WW2. With one elementary mistake from the completely-clueless-on-military-matters-Labour-Party, they set a requirement of 20 years, but Gurkha rifle men can only serve for 15.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=253384

[Garrigan]

All soldiers who have served since 1997 will be allowed in automatically, but before that its very stringent.

I dont think 100 is a limit set by the govt, its an estimate of how many Gurkhas will qualify.

[Yorkshireman]

Most of the Ghurkas'a who left post WW2 are old men now and probably have no intention of uprooting themselves from their lives in Nepal and moving to the UK. At the most its only a few thousand. Just let them in.

[Каие]

last year some tens of thousands upon thousands of EU migrants arrived in the country. A few thousand Gurkha's is no issue at all.

[Garrigan]

Not if you listen to the Labour rep I just heard on the radio saying there could be up to 100,000 (inc. dependants) and we simply cant cope!

But seriously, to try and stop people who have put their lives on the line for the UK's intrests coming to live here for such a pathetic reason (thats assuming every eligble gurkha and his entire family will take up the offer) is disgusting.