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Ministers defeated in Gurkha vote Brown defeated over Gurkha rules
(20 minutes later)
The government has lost a Commons vote on its policy of restricting the right of former Gurkhas to settle in the UK. Gordon Brown's government has suffered a surprise defeat in the Commons on its policy of restricting the right of former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
MPs voted by 267 to 246 in favour of a Lib Dem motion that the government should extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas. MPs voted by 267 to 246 in favour of a Lib Dem motion that all Gurkhas be offered an equal right of residence.
Earlier Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the current policy, announced by the government last week, was "shameful". Tory leader David Cameron backed the Lib Dem motion to scrap rules which leader Nick Clegg called "shameful".
Gordon Brown said earlier he wanted justice for the Gurkhas but any policy change had to be affordable. The defeat came despite ministers offering some last minute concessions to rebel Labour MPs.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had promised to start a review of the new criteria - which was only announced last week - by the summer and gave an assurance veterans would not be deported.
The vote is not binding, but it represents an embarrassing Commons defeat for Gordon Brown at a time when he has faced criticism over a number of other issues.
Speaking outside the Commons Mr Clegg said the symbolic vote was an "victory for decency" while Tory leader David Cameron said it was an "historic day".
He said ministers should come back with immediate proposals to change the system.
Some 36,000 former Gurkhas have been denied residency because they served in the British army before 1997.
Ministers had introduced new rules allowing more soldiers to settle here based on long service, medals received, and those injured in battle.
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.