Gurkha The Gurkhas are some of the bravest fighting men on the face of the planet.  Despite their not being British citizens they willingly fight for us, the shed blood, and they die for us.  Despite all this however our treatment of the Gurkhas has at times been shameful, and in fundamentally important ways continues to be shameful. 

Today outside parliament, a couple of hundred yards from where I enjoy the freedom to write this blog, around thousands of retired Gurkhas are gathering to demand something owed to them that should never have been in question; their right to remain in the UK. 

At present Gurkhas who retire after July 1997 are permitted to remain in the UK, those retiring before that date however are not.  Additionally and importantly it should be noted that those retiring before the cut-off date also receive a pension that amounts to one-sixth of that received by a British soldier. 

Gurkha01 100 of the Gurkhas present today will be handing their medals over to Nick Clegg who will raise the issue in PMQs.  If Clegg is half the man any one of Britain’s brave fighting Gurkhas are he will ignore parliamentary rules, walk across the floor, and dump the medals on the despatch box in front of Gordon Brown. 

Gurkhas have fought and died for our country for almost 200 years, it’s high-time they were given the treatment they deserved.  Those who retired before July 1997 should be allowed to stay in the UK, have their pensions increased to the same received by any other British soldier and receive back-payment for the five-sixths they have been denied for so long. 

Thereafter legislation should be passed granting citizenship to all Gurkhas upon retirement.  Anything less is a stain on this country’s honour.