Victory for Ghurkas in settlement battle
Thousands of retired Ghurkas today were granted permission to move to the UK after the British government relented on its policy of denying the Nepalese soldiers automatic settlement rights.
Campaigners including actress Joanna Lumley, who had spearheaded the campaign for Ghurka rights, reacted with jubilation after the announcement by British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that all Gurkha veterans with four years’ service would be allowed to move to the UK.
Lumley hailed the “brave” decision by UK prime minister Gordon Brown after he opened the door to thousands of retired soldiers.
Surrounded by the heroic Nepalese warriors, Ms Lumley, whose later father was an officer in the Gurkha regiment, led the cheer of “Ayo Gurkhali” – “the Gurkhas are coming”.
Choking back tears she said: “A great injustice has been righted. The Gurkhas are coming home.”
The move follows a two-year legal and political battle for equal rights for those who retired before 1997, when their base moved from Hong Kong to Kent.
The new rules will allow all Gurkhas who retired before 1997 with four years’ service to settle in the UK with their immediate families.
Ms Smith said she expected the change to mean up to 15,000 Gurkhas would come to Britain over the next two years.
Gurkhas who retired after 1997 already have full settlement rights in Britain.
The Brigade of Gurkhas was formed in 1948 from former Indian Army regiments.
Campaigners say 50,000 have been killed and 13 have won Victoria Crosses fighting for Britain.
