SNP HAIL VETERANS VICTORY.

SNP HAIL VETERANS VICTORY.

UK MINISTERS MUST IMMEDIATELY REVERSE RESTRICTIONS

BELEAGURED BROWN BADLY DAMAGED BY GURKHA DEFEAT

Speaking following the UK Government’s defeat in the Commons this afternoon, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP has called on the prime minister to respect the veterans victory, and immediately take action to reverse its policy of restricting the right of former Gurkhas to settle in the UK.

The SNP were part of a cross-party Commons challenge to the UK government’s decision to limit the number of Gurkha veterans allowed to settle in the UK.

Mr Robertson said:

"The UK government’s treatment of the Gurkhas was utterly shameful, and this is another famous victory for these brave veterans.

"It is also a moral victory, and a victory for decency. The Gurkhas risked their lives fighting for this country, and it was nothing short of a betrayal by Labour Ministers to deny them basic rights of residency.

"This extraordinary defeat is hugely damaging for the prime minister personally. The lead walls in the Downing Street bunker are clearly playing havoc with his moral compass, and he has been left looking entirely out of touch.

"We have a had a revealing few weeks on the priorities of this Labour Government, with smear e-mails, damaging Budget spending cuts, ducking and diving on MPs expenses, and now a prime minister being forced to reverse his betrayal of brave Gurkhas.”