Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#1
I have just heard that the Government was defeated on a vote to extend settlement rights to all Ghurkas. The Government opposed the LibDem Opposition day bill to extend these rights to all Ghurkas.
A combination of Tories, LibDems and Labour rebels defeated the Government over this shameful episode. For once I believe a great deal of credit goes to Nick Clegg who was very good on this issue and it would be churlish not to recognise that.
Brown is just stumbling along from one disaster to another, he just cant get anything right. After PMQ's today he was called by the speaker to make an annoucement, but he was straight up walking out of the Commons having forgotten his announcement and had to be intercepted and walk back to the dispatch box with much hilarity. It will be all over the tv news I expect.
Anyway - good news for the Ghurkas If anyone deserves settlement rights in the UK they certainly do.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#2
A quick thought. I wonder if Gwyn was among the rebels supporting our local Ghurka families. I will find out later or tomorrow and if he was, I will give him the credit him accordingly.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#3
As much as I support the Ghurka's where does primary immigration stop?
What about the interpreters in Iraq and Afghanistan should they and their families be offered the same sort of protection?
I know I will be castigated for this posting and as a socialist my views do not concur with the majority of the masses.
What this ruling does mean is that aged uncared parents still living in Nepal will also be allowed to join their son and his family in the UK and so the cycle continues.
I have not read the ruling yet so will reserve judgement but sooner rather than later the gate has to drop.
In closing I wish all those brave soldiers the very best of british luck.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#4
I would say yes to the interpreters. They are risking their lives serving the British forces and that should be recognised. In fact many Commonwealth countries have soldiers serving in the British Army, about 10% of the Army I believe and all of them should get this consideration.
There are many groups who are allowed to stay here, many of whom have criminal records and even links to terrorists. It is these and not the Ghurkas who should not be allowed to stay here.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#5
for once i agree with you on the ghurka front but as for the rest no.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#6
So you dont think Brown is stumbling from one disaster to another then Brian?
read this article by a labour sympathising journalist. There is a lot more in a similar vien out there. The questions are returning about whether Brown will still be PM at the time of the election and the prospects of an early election are again being considered. The only way for Labour now is down.....
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-rentoul/john-rentoul-its-all-over-for-our-prime-minister-1676349.htmlBrian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#7
barryw,i would say that he [brown] had lost his way with the ghurkas.but i am not worried about who is in goverment at the moment,like most things people do lose there way evan the tories did when they had long stint.i am just glad that a large cross section of mps saw sense and made this goverment see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#8
theres more to this debate, surprized barryw has taken the emotional side
He does usually look at the bigger picture
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#9
What do you see as the bigger picture then Keith?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#10
a cross party goverment.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#11
I think M,arek has touched on it
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#12
Oh - points already discussed then, OK
Where the Ghurkas fit in with the broader immigration issue, here is the best article I have seen..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/jeffrandall/5252614/Betraying-the-loyal-Gurkhas-is-yet-another-symptom-of-moral-decay.htmlGuest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
#13
Well Barry - I think it's great news. These men were willing to fight for our country so they should be looked after by our country. I'm chuffed to bits for them.
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
the word on the grapevine is that our honourable member voted with the government.
does anyone else have any further information?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#15
howard, correct again he did vote with the goverment.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#16
Against the interests of our local Ghurka families then....mmmmmmmmmm
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#17
will be interesting to read in our far removed local press his reasons for doing so.
he has a record of voting against the government on various issues.
he has championed asylum seekers her in dover in the past, i wonder why he did not do the same with the retired gherkins?
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#18
I honestly just don't know what to think about this issue.
On an emotional level one thinks it is only right and proper that these very brave soldiers be allowed to settle in the UK after the sterling service they have provided.
However, on a practical level, can the UK economy afford the £1.4bn projected spend on the 100,000 projected settlers? Would they contribute a due return or be a drain on the public purse? Surely the Ghurkhas knew the score when they signed up - they were hardly hoodwinked under false promises. If granted naturalisation and citizenship, we could be looking at many tens of thousands of new Labour voters grateful for their new status.
It's not a black and white issue to me - I'm totally undecided, I'm afraid.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#19
Phil - the £1.4bn figure was made up by Brown and has no credability or basis of fact (something he has a habit of doing). Likewise the 100,000 number is a fiction. The ghurkas are not scrounging economic migrants like so many but hard working and loyal professionals.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#20
I've just read that link BarryW and thank you for posting it.
I don't know how many people will have clicked on to read it, but it really is a good, honest piece.
Here's just the first couple of paragraphs:
"Forget, if you can, the swine flu pandemic, and focus instead on a deadly disease that is sweeping through Downing Street: moral gangrene. As it infects the limbs of Government, rotting the body tissue of Gordon Brown's administration, the stench of terminal decay becomes unmissable.
The bungled attempt by Mr Brown and Jacqui Smith to fix immigration rules against Gurkha veterans was the latest symptom of a political necrosis that is destroying the Prime Minister's authority. Labour remains in power but its purpose is dying, eaten away by a cascade of incompetence and turpitude.
It is bad enough that the Government cannot put an effective brake on the runaway train of MPs' expenses. But when ministers urge the betrayal of friends - willing, brave, disciplined people - who stuck with us through dark nights, when weaker folk threw in the towel, you can be sure that British decency is on death row. Full marks to those on all sides of the House who refused to sign the execution papers."
I urge anyone with a decent set of morals to read the full report - whatever side of the political fence you are, this is a really good read, an honest report.
Roger