BURT BACKS GURKHA CITIZENSHIP CAMPAIGN

9.28.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Mar 2008

Solihull MP Lorely Burt joined with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Defence Spokesman Nick Harvey at a rally against the Government's treatment of Gurkha soldiers, who are denied indefinite leave to remain in Britain after they have served in the armed forces.

Mrs Burt was present as a number of Gurkhas handed over their hard earned and proudly worn medals to Nick Clegg, who will take the issue directly to the Prime Minister in the hope that the Government will change their plans. Mrs Burt has also signed EDM 1194, which calls on the Government to allow those Gurkhas who retired before 1997 to be allowed to stay.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"There is a whole generation of Gurkhas who retired before 1997 who are being, in effect, turfed out of the United Kingdom.

"They fought on the front line very bravely in a long list of conflicts - they then retired from the Army and they are told they are not allowed to stay in this country.

"I think this is a simply scandalous way to treat some of the most modest, brave and courageous individuals I have ever met.

"The way the Government has treated these brave soldiers is nothing short of a disgrace. That they have been moved to hand over their medals won in combat is a measure of how strongly they feel.

"I will be working as hard as I can to force the Government to change their policy on this."