Legion salutes Gurkha decision
21 May 2009
The Royal British Legion has today sent congratulations to Joanna Lumley on her formidable campaigning skills which have resulted in victory for the Gurkhas.
"Brava, Miss Lumley!" said an exuberant Peter Cleminson, National Chairman of the Legion.
For many years, The Royal British Legion has stepped forward to provide Gurkha soldiers with the necessities of living while they have fought their court battle for residency rights in the UK. In the last year alone, the Legion has provided assistance to 186 Gurkhas and their families left in dire straits by their legal uncertainty.
"I will be writing to Miss Lumley to express our gratitude and admiration," said Mr Cleminson. "We congratulate Joanna Lumley and the Gurkha Justice Campaign on their victory, which will obviously delight not only the Gurkhas but their millions of supporters in Britain."
Three weeks ago, the Legion argued that the Government's revised criteria for Gurkha settlement lacked clarity and introduced requirements which were either impossible to meet or unreasonably stringent. It welcomed today's announcement by the Government as consistent with the nation's obligation to both the Gurkhas and the Military Covenant.
