Gurkha veterans & their rights.

[0iD]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8014265.stm
I'm a little astounded buy this ruling, I would have thought they would have shown more leniency to a people who have ultimately faught & died for us rather than their own country.

Now I'm not saying the settlement criteria of

• Three years continuous residence in the UK during or after service
• Close family in the UK
• A bravery award of level one to three
• Service of 20 years or more in the Gurkha brigade
• Chronic or long-term medical condition caused or aggravated by service

Is bad, it's reasonably fair, but I would have liked to see some more leniency for the vets. I feel that if they have been in service for this country for 3-4 years, they should have settement rights. It actually affects a couple of close friends who are ex-Gurkha Rifles & now face deportation. (Even after the uphill battle that there was to get them pay & pension equality.)

[mycarsavw]

Close to my heart too, having family who have fought alongside them.

I wonder if they'd come over on the back of a lorry they'd be allowed to stay?

[smelly]

Since they have fought and put their lives on the line for our country they have the right to live here. There are plenty of people here who are resident that don't deserve to be.

[pollaxe]

A disgusting decision. These are the very kind of people we want here and I agree that we owe them a huge moral debt. When you befriend a Gurkha you've got a friend for life.

Typical of this country, it's never treated its old soldiers well but even so.. grrrrrrrrr.

[shaithis]

I get the feeling that (as usual) the politicians have reacted to the wrong things.

At a time when people are complaining about immigration levels, they clamp down on this, instead of what they really should be focusing on.

Most politicians are completely clueless or at least give that impression.

[BUFF]

I'm extremely pro the Gurkhas but the problem though lies with the original agreement with India re. pay & conditions when they split the regiments/battalions in 1947.
it may only be a short term problem as future recruitment of Gurkhas is in doubt (the Nepalese communist party have said that it will be banned).

[5cupa]

I still work with Gurkhas and find them some of the most proficient and self controlled forces I have ever worked with

[Higgs Boson]

Hi,

Sorry 0iD but I really cant see this as even reasonably fair!

You can die fighting for us but your not entitled to be treated the same as a British citizen.
Motivational politics to say the least, I bet if most Gurkha's could support there families with another vocation they would all begin leaving our armed forces in droves for this insult!

[watercooled]

Close to my heart too, having family who have fought alongside them.

I wonder if they'd come over on the back of a lorry they'd be allowed to stay?

I agree with that, completely. How about, enforce more strict requirements for entering the country (like what Australia and most other countries do), lower the immigration rate and then give the Gurkhas the rights they deserve - they should have more right to be here than nearly any other immigrants!

[JPreston]

Of course the rules are far too stringent. Every single one of them should be given residency, if they want it. It's not as though Britain hasn't had its money worth already out of them.

[Disturbedguy]

Its a disgusting ruling in all honesty.

As has been said already in the thread, they should be granted residency in the UK if they have fought for our country, our military is all to happy to use them during wars without question, but as soon as they ask for something in return, they get treated like this.

It seem's as if immigrants have more right's then Gurkha's which is rather pathetic tbh.

[Andy3536]

Once in the British army they should be aloud to stay. Without clauses.

[Splash]

I'm glad to see most people here agree. These guys worked their arses off (pardon the language mods, I do apologise) and risked their life fighting for a country that a is basically treating them like thrid class citizens.

I wasn't in the forces, but I've had family that are and despite the fact that I often disagree with the work they are tasked with I strongly believe that every one if them deserves a place in our hearts. We ask them to die for our basic freedoms AND THEY AGREE TO DO IT, ferchrissakes.

Ok, slightly less ranty head back on. These people deserve our respect, and I challenge the BNP, UKIP or any other party to make them a target because it'll make it easier to be rid of the buggers (the politicians, not the Gurkhas )

[mycarsavw]

...We ask them to die for our basic freedoms AND THEY AGREE TO DO IT, ferchrissakes.

"Better to die than be a coward" is their motto

[chuckskull]

The way the government treats Gurkha's is disgusting. If you're willing to die for this country, then you're more then welcome to stay as far as I'm concerned.

Especially when a lot of Brits wouldn't turn off Jeremy Kyle for this country, never mind die.

[samcross]

It's disgusting that those that have fought as part of our miltary, is denied the life of one of our soldiers. As shaithis said, why are the government trying to clamp down on those that have risked their lives for this country, when there are some that have been let into the country despite the fact they have criminal records, or may not even be searching for work.