Shame

The British Government descended to new depths today as it released new criteria to be used when deciding if former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas can settle in the United Kingdom. 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. After a lengthy campaign and court case, the High Court in 2008 ruled that the existing regulations denying former Gurkhas that retired before 1997 automatic right to stay in the UK were unlawful.

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. “

So the Home Office decided to sulk at being told they were dishonourable and plain unlawful, coming back 4 months later with a set of revised rules that are so convoluted and onerous only a tiny fraction will qualify. The reality is some former Gurkhas may not wish to settle in the UK but that is not the point, all the Gurkhas want is equality with their UK and Commonwealth comrades. David Enright, of Howe and Co solicitors, said:

“They have set criteria that are unattainable. They require a Gurkha to serve for 20 years but a rifleman is only permitted to serve for 15 years. It’s a sham and an absolute disgrace. It’s far more restrictive than the old policy.” “It’s a sham and an absolute disgrace. It’s far more restrictive than the old policy.”

As an example of how small minded the rules are one of them requires 20 years service yet the usual term of service for an infantry soldier is 15 years. If a Gurkha served 15 years without injury that they can prove was related to their service or received a Level 1-3 Award then they won’t qualify. The MoD and Government talk of honouring the Military Covenant but only if you aren’t a Gurkha. 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. The Gurkha Justice Campaign fights for equal treatment. Actress Joanna Lumley, who has backed the campaign, said:

“The Gurkhas cannot meet these new criteria. “It makes me ashamed of our government. We will fight on. We don’t stop. This has been a setback but that is all.”

Gordon Brown, Phil Woolas and all the other politicians and faceless bureaucrats with no concept of service or the military covenant should go and find a dictionary and look up the following two words;

Honour

Loyalty

Duty

Betrayal

The opposition seem very quite on the issue as well, a plague on all their houses. If you can, visit the Gurkha Justice web site and register your concern Being British used to stand for something, a sense of duty, honour and a committment to do the right thing. Where is our sense of fair play? This is the final ignomy in our descent as a nation into petty small mindedness. Today, I am ashamed to be British