Gurkha decision slammed by Colchester MP
April 24, 2009 12:00 AM
Bob Russell MP meeting Joanna Lumley and Gurkha's
Today's announcement by the Government to allow a small number of former Gurkha soldiers to live in the UK has been slammed by Colchester MP Bob Russell as being a "massive slap in the face for the overwhelming majority of former Gurkhas."
Mr Russell - a leading campaigner in Parliament on behalf of former Gurkha soldiers - said that for "a tiny few, this is a welcome step", but he vowed that the fight "for justice for the Gurkhas" will continue.
In November, Liberal Democrat Mr Russell directly challenged Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and received what at the time he thought was a positive response.
Mr Russell said today: "Sadly, on this issue as on so many issues, Gordon Brown has failed to live up to what he either promised or gave the impression was a promise. He should be ashamed of the way his Government has behaved."
In May last year Mr Russell put forward a Bill in the House of Commons which would have enabled all former Gurkha soldiers to live in the UK should they wish to. Currently, only those who have left the Army since 1997 are allowed to. His Bill would have extended the right to all former Gurkhas. The Bill did not make any progress and fell in November at the end of the Parliamentary session.
Undaunted, in December he continued his campaign with the Tabling of a Parliamentary Motion in support of the Gurkhas which has now been signed by more than 100 MPs from all political parties.
Expressing his disappointment today, Mr Russell backed the national outrage at the Government's decision and vowed to continue the campaign at Parliamentary level. He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Retired Gurkhas.
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