A COUNTY councillor has attacked two local MPS after they voted against giving all Gurkhas full residential rights in the UK.

Liberal Democrat Tommy Taylor from Coundon says everyone he has spoken to in Wear Valley, including many ex-servicemen, is in favour of allowing Nepalese soldiers enlisted into the British Army to stay in the UK.

Current Government legislation means only those soldiers who served in the army after 1997 can stay in the UK but at a vote in the House Of Commons last week the majority of MPs, including 27 from the Labour camp, supported a Lib Dem motion to allow all ex-serving Gurkhas residency rights.

However, Wear Valley MPs Helen Goodman and Hilary Armstrong supported the Government, a “disgraceful” decision says to Cllr Taylor.

He said: “I find it disgraceful and I’d like to know when our two MPS are going to start listening to people that put them where they are. Having spoken to lots of people including several ex-servicemen who have served with the Gurkhas there is no doubt in my mind that they should be allowed to live here. I think Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat leader) hit the nail on the head when he said if they are good enough to die for our country they are good enough to live here.”

Cllr Taylor previously asked Wear Valley District Council to support the Gurkhas getting support from all but three of his colleagues on the now extinct authority.
More than 200,000 Gurkhas fought for the British in the two World Wars and 37 have received Victoria

Crosses for their involvement, the highest military award for bravery.
Government whip Helen Goodman said: ”The Labour Government does care about the Gurkhas and their families. We were the first Government to give proper pensions to Gurkhas, and to allow Gurkha veterans who served after 1997 to settle in the UK. More than 6,000 Gurkhas have settled here, but the Lib Dems seem to be arguing for a position that could mean up to 100,000 Gurkhas, their families and their descendants could gain UK residency. This could also extend to veterans from other countries who fought with British Armed Forces.

 “The Lib Dems put down their motion at 10pm on Monday night and the vote was at 4pm on Wednesday: it would have been quite irresponsible for the Government to adopt such an important and wide reaching policy at such short notice, and I think it is right that the Government will now bring forward fresh proposals, and speed up all outstanding immigration cases for Gurkha veterans.” Following the vote border and immigration minister Phil Woolas said outstanding applications would be decided upon by the end of May and reforms of the current legislation would be reviewed to ensure the Government “continues to deliver a fair outcome for ex-Gurkhas and their families.”