Brits finally let the Gurkhas stay

[Gruffalo]

All Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years' service will be allowed to settle in the UK, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said.

Ms Smith told MPs she was "proud to offer this country's welcome to all who have served in the brigade of Gurkhas".

It comes after a high-profile campaign by Joanna Lumley and other supporters of Gurkha rights - and an embarrassing Commons defeat for the government.

Some 36,000 Gurkhas who left before 1997 had been denied UK residency.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Gurkhas win right to settle in UK

For years the British Government had the racist policy that the Gurkhas were good enough to die for them but not good enough to live amongst them. Finally, thanks to committed campaigners, the Lib Dems and good British people like Joanna Lumley, this policy has been abolished.

[dresden8]

For years the British Government had the racist policy that the Gurkhas were good enough to die for them but not good enough to live amongst them. Finally, thanks to committed campaigners, the Lib Dems and good British people like Joanna Lumley, this policy has been abolished.

Hardly racist.

The Brits pay Gurkha mercenaries to kill people for them. "Thanks for shooting Johnny foreigner, here's your pay, now fnck off." Seems a fair enough deal to me.

Why should they be allowed live in Britland?

[Gruffalo]

Hardly racist.

The Brits pay Gurkha mercenaries to kill people for them. "Thanks for shooting Johnny foreigner, here's your pay, now fnck off." Seems a fair enough deal to me.

Why should they be allowed live in Britland?

If you deem people good enought to die for you but not good enough to live amongst you then that is racist. It is simple.

They are not mercenaries, they do not fight alongside the British Army, they are part of the British Army:

BBC NEWS | UK | Who are the Gurkhas?

[Dunlin3]

I think that you'll find that the pay and conditions of the Gurkhas dated back to an agreement regarding Indian independence in the 1940's. India also has Gurkha regiments. It suited Britain to maintain those conditions for as long as possible. Eventually they were shamed into improving them.

[Gruffalo]

I think that you'll find that the pay and conditions of the Gurkhas dated back to an agreement regarding Indian independence in the 1940's. India also has Gurkha regiments. It suited Britain to maintain those conditions for as long as possible. Eventually they were shamed into improving them.

Yes, they certainly had to be shamed into it.

It does not matter where the policy originated it, it was a racist policy and it should not have taken such a fight to get rid of it.