SNP SET TO SUPPORT GHURKAS IN COMMONS CHALLENGE.

SNP SET TO SUPPORT GHURKAS IN COMMONS CHALLENGE.

UK GOVERNMENT BETRAYAL SHAMEFUL
SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, has confirmed that the SNP will back a cross-party Commons challenge to the UK government decision to limit the number of Gurkha veterans allowed to settle in the UK. The House of Commons is set to debate tomorrow (Wednesday) the issue after campaigners claimed that fewer than 100 of the Nepalese soldiers will benefit from the Home Office's offer of UK residency to Gurkhas who meet certain conditions. Campaigners – including actress Joanna Lumley - will join a demonstration outside parliament as the debate is held. Mr Robertson said: "The UK government’s treatment of the Ghurkas is simply shameful. "These brave men have risked their lives battling for this country, and it is nothing short of a betrayal by Labour Ministers to deny them residency. I think everyone has been shocked by the treatment the Ghurkas have received and Ministers must put this right. "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 betrayal of brave Ghurkas. "It is not too late for the UK Government to do the decent thing, and the SNP will be backing this challenge in parliament.” Note: A Cross-party EDM – supported by Members of the Home Affairs Select Committee - has been tabled: EDM 1362: SETTLEMENT FOR FORMER GURKHA SOLDIERS AND THE HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE This House believes that the new guidelines announced by the Home Office for the settlement of former Gurkha soldiers are unnecessarily restrictive, morally wrong and offensive to those dedicated Gurkha soldiers who are denied the opportunity to serve for the twenty year minimum period afforded to those of the rank of Warrant Officer and above; supports the decision of the Home Affairs Select Committee to call Ministers from the Home Office and Ministry of Defence to examine the consequences of this decision and to ascertain how many former Gurkhas would qualify for settlement and how many of the approximately 1,500 Gurkhas, including Falklands veterans, currently awaiting the outcome of their appeals would face deportation under the new guidelines; and calls upon the Government to withdraw these guidelines and bring forward a new and more equitable ruling.