Reading West MP Martin Salter has welcomed today’s decision at the High Court to declare as “unlawful” the current policy of denying settlement rights to Gurkhas discharged from the British Army before 1997. Mr Salter has described the judgement as an opportunity for the government to right an historic wrong.

The Gurkhas have been campaigning for equal treatment with other Commonwealth soldiers who are entitled to settle in the UK at the end of their period of service. Currently only Gurkhas discharged from the British Army after 1997 are entitled to settlement rights. Gurkhas also receive substantially less in wages and pensions than soldiers in other British regiments despite being deployed in some of the most dangerous conflicts in the world on behalf of Britain.

Martin Salter said:

“I have always believed that it is fundamentally wrong to have two classes of soldiers serving in the British Army. The judgement of the High Court shows quite clearly that in 2004 the Home Office was willing to grant settlement rights to all Gurkhas who have served 4 years in the British Army but that the Ministry of Defence and the Army high command remained opposed.  We now have a unique opportunity to acknowledge the historic debt that Britain owes the Gurkhas who are known as ‘the bravest of the brave’.  I am urging the Home Secretary not to allow the Government to appeal this decision and to bring forward proposals to put right an historic wrong”.

He added

“Quite apart from ending this artificial distinction between two types of Gurkha soldier we must also recognise that all foreign and Commonwealth soldiers serving in the British Army for more than 4 years are automatically entitled to settlement rights in the UK after their service.  If someone is prepared to take a bullet for Britain then it is only right and proper that we give them the opportunity to live in the same country for which they were prepared to risk their lives.

Mr Salter has made arrangements for the Gurkhas to give evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee who are currently undertaking an enquiry into immigration policy.