Government faces Commons defeat on Gurkha policy

11.15.25am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Apr 2009

Actress Joanna Lumley will meet David Cameron MP and Nick Clegg MP outside Parliament on Wednesday 29th April. The move follows the news that the two leaders appear to be forming a united Parliamentary opposition to the Government's Gurkha policy announced on Friday. There is an expectation that the two leaders will commit to overturn the new settlement criteria should they have enough seats between them after the next General Election.

Joanna will meet them outside Parliament on Wednesday afternoon (from noon) together with 1,000 massed Gurkha veterans.

The meeting and protest coincide with a Lib Dem Opposition Day Debate on the issue of Gurkha justice. With the opposition parties working together on Wednesday the Government could face a crushing defeat on the issue.

Labour MP Martin Salter has also e-mailed all Labour MPs urging them to support the Lib Dem motion tomorrow.

The move follows the widespread fury that greeted last Friday's announcement that pre 1997 retired British Army Gurkhas would only be allowed to stay in the UK if they met a set of stringent new criteria.

Joanna Lumley said:

"The reaction to last Friday's appalling announcement has been profound and widespread. I feel that our campaign has taken hold of the nation. People from every political persuasion, every walk of life and of all ages are furious that our Government has turned its back on these heroes. I said on the day that we would continue our fight for them with even more vigour than before. I am calling on Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg to give solemn and binding commitments that they will join with us and overturn this new policy as soon as the next election has passed".

Peter Carroll, one of the founders of the Gurkha Justice campaign said:

"This policy means that retired British Army Gurkhas face deportation. Many of those back in Nepal will suffer needlessly as they are denied entry to the UK. On Wednesday, we are asking that both Opposition Parties co-operate in the Opposition Day Debate on this issue and vote the Government down. On behalf of everyone involved in Gurkha Justice, I emphasise that ALL MPs from whatever Party are urged to support us - including Labour backbenchers."

Martin Howe, the solicitor acting for the Gurkhas, said:

"The new Government rules mean that Britain faces the spectre of Immigration Service dawn raids; handcuffed Gurkhas; and brave British war veterans being shoved onto planes and deported from the country they served. At the stroke of a pen, the Immigration Minister has managed to make a whole class of heroic Gurkha soldiers nothing more than illegal immigrants. Is this how we repay loyalty, honour and courage? It is truly shameful."