Lib Dem victory in Justice for Ghurkas campaign

9.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Apr 2009

Nick Clegg celebrates with Ghurkas outside the Commons

Salisbury Lib Dems are proud to support the parliamentary motion passed today, to prevent the restriction of the rights of many former Ghurkas to settle in the UK.

The Liberal Democrats believe that Ghurkas who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live here if they wish. Today's motion called upon the Government to withdraw its new eligibility criteria for Ghurkas to live in the UK, which differentiates between those who retired before 1997 and those who have retired since. The Lib Dems want to see revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Ghurkas.

Commenting after the vote defeating the Government, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said:

"This is a historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely.

"This Government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn't understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake.

"People who are willing to die for our country, should be allowed to live in our country.

"The Government must listen to Parliament and scrap these shameful rules immediately and grant justice without conditions to all retired Gurkhas."

The Liberal Democrat motion struck a chord with fellow parliamentarians, with several Labour MPs backing Nick Clegg in the Lib Dems' biggest Commons victory since the party's formation.