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Shepway Liberal DemocratsWorking for Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and Elham Valley |
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Anger as Government reject 4 out of 5 Gurkha settlement test cases
May 7, 2009 3:41 PM
Gurkha campaigners feel betrayed after the UK Border Agency rejected four out of five test cases for former Gurkha soldiers to settle in the UK. The news comes just one day after Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to Gurkha Justice campaigner Joanna Lumley to take the matter into his own hands and come up with a "solution" to the issue of residency rights by the end of May.
Commenting on the news, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:
"Another day, another betrayal of the Gurkhas.
"Yesterday Gordon Brown raised hopes only to dash them 24 hours later.
"The Prime Minister must show he is in charge. He must now use his authority to repeal these decisions.
"There simply cannot be any further dither and delay. A simple moral principle is at stake: that someone who is prepared to die for this country, should be allowed to live here."
Shepway Gurkha Justice Campaigner Neil Matthews added:
"The Prime Minster committed just 24 hours ago to take matters into his own hands. With the rejection of these 4 test cases, it shows just how unfair the new Government rules are. These are men who have fought bravely in the British Army. For the Government to rule they have no right to settle here is a disgrace."
Downing Street sources have said that the rulings should not be considered to be "set in stone". Those Gurkhas whose applications have been rejected will not be deported, pending a further review of the rules as they have "residual settlement rights".
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