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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Gurkhas win High Court battle to stay in UK

Gurkhas win High Court battle to stay in UK

Gurkhas who fought alongside the British Army have won their battle to settle in the UK following a High Court test case.

"The result was welcomed by actress Joanna Lumley, whose late father served with the 6th Gurkha Rifles, as a chance to "right a great wrong and wipe out a national shame that has stained us all".

The six claimants who led the battle by 2,000 Gurkhas for the right to live in the UK included veterans of the Gulf War and Falklands conflicts who currently live in Nepal and Hong Kong.

They all applied to settle in the UK but were denied entry by immigration officials because of a policy that barred those who had not served since the Nepalese fighters' base moved from Hong Kong to Kent following the island nation's handover to China in 1997
".

The irrational policy decision was made by the former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. What a Plonker!

UPDATE:

Read the High Court judgment here.

Hat-Tip to Head of Legal.

3 comments:

Fidothedog said...

Plonker would be a diplomatic way of describing Geoff Hoon, evil, pett, officious, bloody minded, penny pinching, a complete bastard of the old school in short a typical politician out to shaft anyone.

Anonymous said...

jailhouselawyer,

Judge Justice Blake ruled instructions given by the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, in this case were "unlawful".

Anonymous said...

I feel that despite the fact we are hearing "the sky is falling" shouted from the roof tops, I see some very positive signs of change.
Mbeki steps down - better utilize his talents in the African Renaisance rather then being the chief housekeeper for a country.
I admire the way he stepped down, unlike another despot he has been assisting.

Then the war between Main Street and Wall Street. With Main Street still currently in charge.
Congress listened once for the first time in ages, maybe it can steam roll from now.

And this, the Gurkhas winning the battle. Soldiers to the end. Claiming what is rightfully theirs.

I see that we are all starting to claim what is ours, but it is no longer about the cars, and the phones and the stocks, I think it is becoming more simple more from long ago.

Values are becoming more important than stuff at some level. I can feel change in the air. And I am no longer pessimistic. There is a freshness in the air. Hope springs eternal.