Salter to Head Up New Gurkha Group in Parliament
Reading West MP, Martin Salter, has been elected chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkha Rights at an inaugural meeting held in the House of Commons to coincide with an evidence session of the Home Affairs Select Committee on the issue. The Vice-Chairs of the 50 strong new Parliamentary group are Ann Widdecombe MP (Conservative), Bob Russell MP (Lib Dem) and Marsha Singh MP(Labour). The Group Secretary will be Anne Snelgrove MP, Labour MP for Swindon South.
On Thursday November 20th Mr Salter will be speaking at a Gurkha Justice campaign rally organised by TV star Joanna Lumley. The rally will include speeches at Parliament Square followed by a wreath-laying at the Cenotaph in honour of the 45,000 Gurkhas who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending Britain. There will also be a petition presentation to No. 10 Downing Street.
Speakers at the inaugural meeting on November 4th included; Tim Heaver- Reading solicitor and Gurkha Rights campaigner, Martin Howe- Solicitor acting for the Gurkha claimants in the High Court, Gyanraj Rai and Laxmi Prasad Sharma- Members of United British Gurkhas Ex-Serviceman’s Association based in Reading and Gyan Bahadur Sherchan- Ex Gurkha and member of the Gurkha United Forum from Aldershot.
Welcoming the MPs and around 40 Gurkhas from across London and the South-East to the meeting Martin Salter drew their attention to the decision of the Home Affairs Committee to support the Gurkhas’ campaign for settlement rights. Mr Salter also circulated a letter of support on behalf of the committee from Chairman Keith Vaz MP.
Martin Salter said:
“The vast majority of people feel that it cannot be right for the British Government to offer settlement rights to Foreign and Commonwealth citizens who have served four or more years in the British Army but not to the Gurkhas. The 1997 cut off date has been ruled as illogical by the High Court and I truly believe that we have a great opportunity to put right an historic injustice and acknowledge the debt of honour that Britain owes to one of the bravest groups of people ever to fight for our country.”
Laxmi Prasad Sharma from the United British Gurkhas Ex-Serviceman’s Association said:
“Martin Salter is to be congratulated on his fine efforts in forming and becoming Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Gurkha Rights Group. Both Reading’s MPs have shown their commitment, and Martin is taking our voice to the heart of Parliament.”