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More Gurkhas can settle in the UK Fury over Gurkha settlement plan
(41 minutes later)
New rules for former Gurkha soldiers will allow around 4,300 more to live in the UK, the Home Office has said. Campaigners have reacted with anger to new rules on the eligibility of Gurkha veterans to live in the UK.
In September 2008, the High Court ruled that immigration rules denying Gurkhas who retired before 1997 an automatic right to stay in the UK were unlawful. 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.
Some 36,000 Gurkhas served prior to the cut-off and campaigners are likely to be disappointed with the announcement. Actress Joanna Lumley, a campaigner for the Gurkhas, said the announcement made her "ashamed of our administration".
Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said new rules would "improve the situation" but "we have to go through each case". Immigration Minister Phil Woolas denied he had betrayed the Gurkhas, adding: "This improves the situation."
He told GMTV: "We will be more generous where there has been valour, long service and where there are medical conditions as well. 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 has never been a proposition that all Gurkhas pre-1997 should be given grants or settlements. Along with their spouses and close dependants, that would be around 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."
"We have obligations to other people around the world and we have to be fair." 'Truly appalling'
'Continue fighting' In September 2008, the High Court ruled that immigration rules denying Gurkhas who retired before 1997 - about 36,000 - an automatic right to stay in the UK were unlawful.
Campaigners argue it is wrong that Gurkhas have been denied residency when soldiers from other countries have to serve just four years in the forces to win the same right.
Gurkha Madan Gurung: 'We are very, very discriminated'Gurkha Madan Gurung: 'We are very, very discriminated'
Gurkhas and their supporters - including the actress Joanna Lumley - gathered in Westminster to await the announcement. Peter Carroll, from the Gurkha Justice Campaign, said the fight to allow them to stay in this country would continue with renewed vigour.
He added: "The one group of people that has never let this country down has been let down today in a manner which is truly appalling."
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."
Gurkhas have been part of the Army for almost 200 years and are hand-picked from a fiercely-contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join.Gurkhas have been part of the Army for almost 200 years and are hand-picked from a fiercely-contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join.
They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 having fought in the two world wars and 45,000 believed to have lost their lives fighting for Britain.They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 having fought in the two world wars and 45,000 believed to have lost their lives fighting for Britain.
It is so obvious that the treatment of the Gurkhas has been a huge injustice Joanna Lumley
The regiment moved its main base from Hong Kong to the UK in 1997 and the government had argued that Gurkhas discharged before that date were unlikely to have strong residential ties with the UK.The regiment moved its main base from Hong Kong to the UK in 1997 and the government had argued that Gurkhas discharged before that date were unlikely to have strong residential ties with the UK.
That meant those who wanted to settle in the UK had to apply for British residency and could be refused and deported.That meant those who wanted to settle in the UK had to apply for British residency and could be refused and deported.
Dhan Gurung, the first ex-Gurkha to be elected as a UK councillor, said campaigners were loyal to the Crown but were prepared to keep up their battle. Ms Lumley, whose father served with the Gurkhas, has been a supporter of the campaign to allow them the right to settle in the UK.
Cllr Gurung, who serves on Folkestone Town Council near the Gurkhas' base at Shornecliffe Barracks, has served in Brunei, Bosnia and Sierra Leone.
He said: "If our requirements are fulfilled we will be very grateful and we will say thank you to the government.
"But if they are not met, we will continue fighting."
It is so obvious that the treatment of the Gurkhas has been a huge injustice Joanna Lumley
Ms Lumley, whose father served with the Gurkhas, has been a high-profile supporter of the campaign to allow them the right to settle in the UK.
"It is so obvious that the treatment of the Gurkhas has been a huge injustice," she said."It is so obvious that the treatment of the Gurkhas has been a huge injustice," she said.
"We are talking about a comparatively small number of people who have served this country tirelessly." "To treat them like this is despicable."
'Moral debt''Moral debt'
In September, Mr Justice Blake ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful and needed urgent revision.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.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.
The government promised to revise its guidance, but in March 2009, the Gurkhas returned to the High Court to try and enforce the ruling.The government promised to revise its guidance, but in March 2009, the Gurkhas returned to the High Court to try and enforce the ruling.