Nick Clegg calls on MPs of all parties to join Liberal Democrats in vote against shameful Gurkha ruling

1.05.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Apr 2009

British Army Gurkha soldiers

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will today call on Gordon Brown to reverse the shameful Government decision that will see thousands of retired Gurkhas forcibly deported.

In the Liberal Democrat Opposition Day Debate in the House of Commons, MPs will have the opportunity to vote on last week's decision to limit the number of retired Gurkhas who can stay in Britain.

Joanna Lumley and a large group of Gurkhas will demonstrate outside the House of Commons while the Liberal Democrats continue the fight inside Parliament. Nick Clegg will join the protesters after the debate.

Commenting, Nick Clegg said "People who are prepared to fight and die for our country should be entitled to live here. Yet even this basic principle is broken by this out of touch and morally bankrupt Government. Our debate will force the Government to come and explain its insulting decision to turn its back on these brave soldiers. MPs of all parties will be able to vote against the Government and force Gordon Brown to back down, even at this late stage. Gordon Brown has a chance to rediscover his moral compass and reverse the betrayal of these loyal veterans. I invite MPs of all parties to join with the Liberal Democrats in seeking justice for the Gurkhas."

The House of Commons will vote, during the Liberal Democrat Opposition Debate, on the following motion:

Gurkha Settlement Rights - Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Chris Huhne, Nick Harvey, David Heath, Paul Burstow

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.