Andrew Dismore Gurkha Update

Great Britain is facing a massive crisis of confidence in our politicians. There is an issue of confidence and an issue of trust. People are sick of twisted words and lame justifications. People want straight answers to straight questions. We are sick of being treated with contempt. We are sick of having our intelligence insulted. My message? If you want to regain our trust, stop treating us like fools. On this subject. Andrew Dismore has been justifying his vote against the Lib Dem Gurkha motion. Dismore said he didn't vote for this motion:-

That this House regrets 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 in the country; 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.

His reason for not supporting it -

“It's a Liberal Democrat Trojan Horse, a rather large Trojan Horse. We know the Lib Dems have a rather lapse attitude to immigration. If people voted for this you could say it would open the door to unlimited immigration.

“I’ve stuck my head above the parapet with this. Every campaign the Gurkhas have run I’ve supported. If Offord says he would vote for it he’s a fool.”

He did vote for this Government sponsored motion :-

“This house recognises that this Government is the only one since the Second World War to allow Gurkhas and their families settlement rights to the United Kingdom; notes that in 2004 the Government permitted settlement rights to Gurkhas discharged since 1997, following the transfer of the Brigade HQ from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom; further notes that under these rules around 6,000 Gurkhas and family members have been welcomed to the UK; acknowledges that the court judgement of September 2008 determined that the 1997 cut-off date was fair and rational, while seeking clarification of the criteria for settlement rights for those who retired before 1997; further notes that on 24 April the Government published new and more generous guidelines for the settlement applications of Gurkhas who retired before 1997; supports this revised guidance, which will make around 10,000 Gurkhas and family members eligible to settle in the UK; further notes that the Government undertakes actively to inform those who may be eligible in Nepal of these changes and to review the impact of the new guidance within 12 months; further notes that the contribution Gurkhas have made is already recognised by pensions paid to around 25,000 Gurkhas or their widows in Nepal that allow for a good standard of living there; and further notes that in the year 2000 Gurkha pensions were doubled and that, earlier in April 2009, in addition to an inflationary uplift of 14 per cent., those over 80 years old received a 20 per cent. increase in their pension.”

Draw your own conclusions. I have. Am I impressed? Nope.