Martin welcomes Commons Gurkha vote

5.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Apr 2009

Martin welcomes Gurkha vote

LOCAL MP Martin Horwood joined his parliamentary colleagues to vote for a Liberal Democrat motion put before Parliament today [Wednesday] to extend the equal right of residence to all Gurkhas. The government suffered a shock defeat in the vote this afternoon.

267 MPs to 246 supported a Liberal Democrat opposition day motion demanding equal rights. This will completely undermine the political legitimacy of the restrictions on the rights of Gurkhas to settle in the UK.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has campaigned hard for the Gurkhas and greeted the victory with actress Joanna Lumley who has long fought for justice for the Gurkha soldiers that fought in the British Army.

Martin said 'this is fantastic news for the Gurkhas. Although this hasn't changed the policy overnight, it will force the government to rethink its plans as the will of Parliament is now clearly that the policy must change.

'We have an absolutely clear moral duty to the Gurkhas. If you are prepared to fight and die for this country, surely you have earned the right to live here. I think everyone in Britain has enormous respect and affection for the Gurkhas and we have today repaid a little of the debt we owe them.'