The Tories are latecomers to the Gurkha cause
I nearly fell off my chair. I really could not believe my eyes.
The press statement on the Gurkha Justice vote, by my Conservative counterpart, just beggared belief.
It wasn't what she said about Michael Foster. I agreed with her sentiments on Michael's decision to back the government on this issue.
It was truly and deeply disappointing, and is the clearest example yet of him choosing to present the image of a valiant advocate locally, and failing miserably to be a strong voice at Westminster.
No, what nearly unseated me, was the opportunistic and cynical way in which the Conservatives have tried to spin themselves as the saviours of the Gurkhas.
As Janice Turner put it in The Times on Saturday, '(Someone needs] to point out the absurdity of David Cameron elbowing Nick Clegg to muscle in on the Gurkha victory photocall, despite having hitherto done nothing for their cause.'
Readers should know that the Conservatives never chose to extend residency to the Gurkhas in all the years they were in government. And it has been Liberal Democrats who have used the processes of Parliament to get overturned the Labour Government's unworthy and ungenerous proposals.
Nick Clegg's motion to the House of Commons on Wednesday read as follows:
'That this House condemns 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 here; 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.'
This gives the lie to Mr Foster's suggestion in the local media that the Government is being reasonable towards the Gurkhas.
The Government has been shocking.
His vote in support of them was shocking.
And the Tories have been jaw-dropping in the aftermath.
All in all, another week in which I have been proud to be a Liberal Democrat.
(To read more about what Nick has been up to, check out his blog – 'Nick Perry for Hastings & Rye' at www.nickperrylibdem.wordpress.com]
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Weather for Hastings
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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