Gurkhas likely to be given right to live in UK
May 20th, 2009 - 1:22 pm ICT by ANI
London, May 20 (ANI): All retired Gurkha soldiers are to be given the right to live in Britain and Premier Gordon Brown could announce the historic breakthrough as early as tomorrow, reports The Sun.It marks a sensational victory for the campaign on behalf of the Gurkhas - led by TV star Joanna Lumley and backed by The Sun.
MPs on the all-party Home Affairs Committee wrote to the PM last night urging him to give Gurkhas citizenship.
They recommended the move after Lumley and other campaigners insisted only a maximum of 10,000 would take up the offer.
That is far fewer than the figure of 100,000 Gurkhas and family members officials had warned about. And Immigration Minister Phil Woolas has privately accepted the assurance of the lower figure.
Details were still being thrashed out last night about how a new policy will be drawn up.
But it will effectively mean ex-Gurkhas and their immediate families who want to settle here will get the green light.
The Sun launched a campaign last month after new Home Office rules slammed the door on thousands of Gurkha ex-servicemen. (ANI)
- Britain opens Nepal office to help Gurkha migration - Oct 05, 2009
- Britain denies Gurkha ex-soldiers automatic right to settle - Apr 24, 2009
- Gurkha row: Brown, UK Defence Minister apologise to Lumley - Mar 30, 2010
- Lumley says Gurkhas must be allowed into Britain sans visa fees - Feb 07, 2010
- Gurkha activists' fury over British minister's attack on cause campaigner Joanna Lumley - Mar 10, 2010
- Joanna Lumley helps create chutney in support of gurkhas - Aug 05, 2010
- UK Government's treatment of Gurkhas disgraceful, says Thatcher - Apr 28, 2009
- Abandoned Gurkha veterans get first home in Nepal - Nov 17, 2010
- UK actress Lumley begged for Gurkha settlement rights - May 30, 2009
- Gurkhas fight it out in British parliament - Apr 29, 2009
- Brit actress Lumley turns the screws on PM Brown over Gurkha issue - May 08, 2009
- Hindus urge Nepal to award highest civilian honor to UK actress Joanna Lumley - May 23, 2009
- UK Minister Woolas reassures Gurkhas about residency rights - May 09, 2009
- Brown lied in saying that Gurkhas living in UK would cost taxpayers 1.4 billion pounds - May 03, 2009
- Fish and chips supper, kiss at doorstep sealed Gurkhas' victory in UK - May 22, 2009
Tags: breakthrough, campaigners, family members, figure details, gordon brown, gurkha soldiers, gurkhas citizenship, home affairs committee, home office rules, immigration minister, joanna lumley, minister phil, mps, phil woolas, sun, tv star, uk london, victory
