Joanna Lumley leads Gurkhas to Downing Street

5.10.00pm GMT Sun 16th Nov 2008

On Thursday 20th November 2008 Joanna Lumley will take the Gurkha Justice Campaign to 10 Downing Street to present a petition following a massive rally of Gurkha supporters in Parliament Square which starts at 11:00 am. The rally and petition will press the Government to give British Army Gurkhas who retired from service before 1997 the automatic right to live and settle in the UK.

In September, the High Court ruled that the immigration policy used to exclude pre-1997 retired Gurkhas from the UK was unlawful. Mr Justice Blake indicated that it should not take more than 3 months for the Government to come up with a new, fairer Gurkha immigration policy. Since the Court announced its ruling, Joanna Lumley and the "Gurkha Justice" team have launched a huge petition calling on the Government to make the new policy the one that the Nation wants: that ALL retired Gurkhas be offered the opportunity to settle in the UK regardless of the date they retired from our army.

So far, over 130,000 people have signed the online petition at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk with a further 50,000 sending in a written response by post.

Joanna Lumley said:

"The response to our campaign has been loud and clear. People have signed up in massive numbers. We have received countless, emotional and touching messages of support from all across the UK and the world. The people have spoken. In September, the High Court struck down the existing Gurkha immigration policy because it was unlawful. However, that great victory did not end this issue.

"There is a risk that the Government will now come up with 'half measures' to try and get round the Court's ruling. The people do not want this - they want ALL retired British Army Gurkhas to have the right to live in the country that they were prepared to fight and die for. This is an historic opportunity for the Government to act decisively and to end this national shame."

Peter Carroll, who has helped lead and support this campaign since 2004 said:

"People have been astounding. We have received petition replies from Parish Councils, Police Forces, young people, social clubs, companies and individuals of all ages. In some cases, people have gone out on their own accord to town centres and High Streets and gathered thousands of signatures. The personal replies and stories of how people have been touched by the Gurkhas would bring tears to the eyes of any right-thinking person."

Martin Howe, the lead solicitor in the recent successful High Court case said:

"We won in the courtroom, but now we have to win in the corridors of Parliament and the mandarin's offices of Whitehall. Only the Government can change the law to allow all retired Gurkhas the right to settle here, as the judge only had the power to strike down the old policy.

"I and many others recently gave evidence to the powerful Home Affairs Committee, chaired by Keith Vaz MP. The Committee concluded that our cause is just and have written directly to the Home Secretary demanding action to put right this wrong. Two Private Members Bills are in the Parliamentary system and have won wide cross-Party Support.

"The overwhelming feeling in the Country and in Parliament is that all Gurkhas, irrespective of date of discharge, should be allowed to live in the UK and be welcomed with admiration. Seven veteran Gurkhas died awaiting the outcome of the Court case. A further brave Gurkha veteran has since died awaiting the Government's new policy announcement. The new policy must be fair and it must come swiftly if more Gurkhas are not to die pending the current review by the Home Office."

The rally will assemble at Parliament Square at 11:00am on 20th November. Various high profile figures will address the gathering. Shortly after noon, Joanna Lumley will lead a delegation of 100 retired Gurkhas and supporters to 10 Downing Street via the Cenotaph (where a wreath will be laid in honour of the 50,000 Gurkhas who have given their lives fighting for Britain). The delegation will include Gurkha Victoria Cross winners: Honorary Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun VC and Honorary Sergeant Lachiman Gurung VC.

At 1:00 pm Joanna Lumley will present the massive petition at the door of 10 Downing Street, before returning to Parliament Square at 2pm to address the rally.