Labour out of touch on Gurkhas - Alcock

11.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Apr 2009

British Army Gurkha soldiers

Local Liberal Democrats have slammed the decision by to drastically limit Gurkha settlement in the UK.

Oldham West & Royton Parliamentary spokesperson Mark Alcock, said: "The government is out of touch with local opinion and even its own Labour councillors on this issue.

"Most people around Oldham want this to change, the people I have spoken to about these brave soldiers think that the government's decision is an absolute disgrace.

"A proposal was put to Oldham Council last October which called for citizenship for all retired Gurkhas who have fought in the British Army. It received cross party consensus from Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative Councillors. The government is out of touch with its own local party and is out of touch with the people of Oldham.

"These brave soldiers fought and died for Britain and they should be allowed to live here in their retirement."

The Liberal Democrats are mounting a Parliamentary challenge to the government this Wednesday. The opposition day debate will call for the government to reverse its shameful decision and MP's will have a chance to vote on the matter.

Figures used by the government relating to the number of Gurkhas who would settle in the UK if it bowed to public pressure have come under fire from the Defence Management Journal:

"These figures have been found to be false and could have potentially been used as a scare tactic in order to win public support."