Carmichael congratulates Gurkha campaigners (BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats)

BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats <info@banffandbuchanlibdems.org.uk>

Carmichael congratulates Gurkha campaigners

May 21, 2009 2:58 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael today met with Gurkha veterans to congratulate them after today's u-turn from the Home Secretary revealed the Government will now allow Gurkhas with four years service to settle in the UK.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Carmichael said;

"I am delighted that the Gurkhas have finally been given such long overdue justice. Today is a great victory for the Gurkhas and for everyone who has campaigned on their behalf. I am pleased the Liberal Democrats lead this campaign in Parliament and forced the government into this embarrassing u-turn as a result of their humiliating defeat in the commons a few weeks back.

"The whole of the UK owes a historic debt of gratitude to the Gurkhas for their years of loyal service to this country and I am dismayed it has taken the government so long to say what the rest of the country has been saying, that those people who are prepared to fight and die for this country, must be allowed to live here."

Mr Carmichael supported by a number of constituents has been campaigning alongside his Liberal Democrat colleagues to force the Government to change its immigration rules which said those Gurkhas who retired from the British Army before 1997 did not have an automatic right to stay.

The Gurkhas have fought for the British all over the World, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them. More than 200,000 fought in two world wars and in the past 50 years, they have served in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo and now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After the announcement Mr Carmichael went outside Parliament to meet with Gurkha campaigner Ms Joanna Lumley and Ghurka veterans.