Sarah celebrates Gurkha justice victory

4.47.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Apr 2009

Sarah Ludford celebrating the victory for Gurkha justice with Lib Dem councilor Dhan Gurung.

Sarah celebrated with former Gurkha soldier, now Lib Dem councilor, Dhan Gurung (right) outside the House of Commons as news came through that the Liberal Democrat motion condemning the government's restrictive policy on settlement of Gurkhas who served before 1997 had been carried.

MPs backed the Lib Dem motion by 267 votes to 246.

Sarah said: "As someone who has long supported the campaign for fair treatment of Gurkha veterans, I am delighted that Nick Clegg and my MP colleagues have been successful in passing this motion calling for equal rights of residence for all Gurkhas, who have laid their lives on the line to protect Britain and our interests in world wars, the Falklands and now in Afghanistan. The government's stubborn refusal to grant them this right is mean and shabby, and the Commons vote is a welcome victory for justice. I salute the untiring efforts of Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Campaign and await Gordon Brown's recognition that he is out of step with parliamentary and public opinion."

See also:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/home/nick-clegg-hails-historic-victory-for-gurkhas-243703630