ROGER WILLIAMS MP WELCOMES OUTCOME OF GURKHA VOTE (Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrats)

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Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrats <info@brecon-radnor-libdems.org.uk>

ROGER WILLIAMS MP WELCOMES OUTCOME OF GURKHA VOTE

April 30, 2009 4:37 PM

Commenting on the Government's defeat after a vote on a Liberal Democrat opposition day motion into the settlement eligibility of Gurkha Veterans, Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, has welcomed the result.

Mr Williams said:

"For far too long the Government has rejected the calls for Gurkha Veterans to be given settlement rights within the UK.

"If someone can die for this country then they should certainly be allowed to live here.

"Within my constituency, Brecon is home to the Mandalay Company and has a large Gurkha community who are well respected and, along with their families, welcomed into our communities.

"The Government must now act on the outcome of this vote and they must not be allowed to dodge their responsibilities following this vote.

"I look forward to seeing what action they take."

NOTES:

The Liberal Democrat motion was passed 267 votes to 246 (a majority of 21).

The text of the Liberal Democrat motion was as follows:

That this House condemns the Government's recent statement outlining the eligibility criteria for Gurkhas to reside in the United Kingdom; recognises the contribution the Gurkhas have made to the safety and freedom of the United Kingdom for the past 200 years; notes that more Gurkhas have laid down their lives for the United Kingdom than are estimated to want to live here; believes that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 should be treated fairly and in the same way as those who have retired since; is concerned that the Government's new guidelines will permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle whilst preventing the vast majority; further believes that people who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live here; and calls upon the Government to withdraw its new guidelines immediately and bring forward revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas.

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