STILL no proper pensions justice for Gurkhas

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 18th Mar 2008

Lib Dem Leader, Nick Clegg, supports the Gurkha campaign for fair pensions

Thousands of retired Gurkha soldiers will gather outside Parliament on Wednesday 19th March 2008 in an unprecedented demonstration which will see them hand back their precious Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to the Government. The Gurkhas are campaigning for justice and fair treatment.

Despite a number of recent Government announcements thousands of retired Gurkhas are still suffering great injustice. Gurkhas who retired before 1997 do not have the right to settle in the UK even though many of them have served over 25 years in the British Army and many have seen active combat. Additionally, all Gurkhas are still getting a raw deal on pensions.

Lib Dem Leader on Surrey Heath Borough Council David Whitcroft said, 'These people are heroes and true friends of Britain. It is an outrage that the Government still deports retired Gurkhas. Only a few weeks ago, we were reminded of their role in our armed forces when Prince Harry served with them in Afghanistan. If they are good enough to fight and die for us, they are good enough to live here with us. For these loyal warriors to be so distraught as to hand in their precious medals is a sign of how desperate they have become in their struggle'.

Over 3,000 retired Gurkhas are gathering in Old Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament at 10.00 am on Wednesday 19th March. The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP will address the gathering. A large number of MPs from all Parties are expected to attend. Fifty retired Gurkhas will symbolically hand in their medals to Mr Clegg who will then raise the matter at Prime Minister's Questions that afternoon.

At the same time, there will be an attempt to introduce a Bill into the House of Lords attempting to force the Government to allow all Gurkhas the right to settle in the UK. Additionally, Nick Clegg will announce the formation of an All Party Lobby group to fight for the Gurkhas in Parliament.

David Whitcroft said, 'This is the first time that there has been such a public demonstration by the Gurkhas combined with an attempt to appeal to MPs to defy the Government and change the law'.