Wycombe Liberal Democrats

Lib Dem motion wins Commons vote

In a historic defeat for Gordon Brown, a Lib Dem motion condemning the government’s treatment of Ghurkas was passed by 267 votes to 246.

The vote is the culmination of a long campaign by the Liberal Democrats and Gurkha pressure groups, which has seen the Prime Minister challenged repeatedly on the issue by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg, and thousands of Gurkhas handing their medals to Mr Clegg to pass to Gordon Brown in protest at their treatment.

In a statement, Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat Leader) said:

This is an 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.