LABOUR'S GURKHA U - TURN

It was an historic event on which Parliament took the right decision. It told the Labour Government that it’s attitude to the Gurkhas was unfair, ungenerous and unacceptable. The basic presumption that people who fight for our country should have a right to come and live in our country has been set out very clearly.

A Conservative Government would create a new category within the points based immigration system for former service personnel who are not British citizens and we will allow them the right to settle. The vast majority of those who will benefit from this category will be pre-1997 Gurkhas.

It is good that Labour Ministers have made the U-Turn so quickly and recognised that they needed a new policy. The test that we will now apply is whether that policy meets the needs of the Gurkhas and their supporters. Will this Labour Government be able to look Gurkhas in the eye and say “We are being fair to you”?

23 May 2009