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Victory for Joanna Lumley as all Gurkhas to be given right to settle in Britain
All Gurkha veterans will be given the same right to settle in Britain, ministers will announce on Thursday.
The statement will confirm a significant political victory for campaigners led by the actress Joanna Lumley.
Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, is expected to signal the new policy in the Commons today, with a formal statement from the Home Office on Thursday.
The vote followed a growing chorus of public and political anger against Government refusals to allow Gurkhas who retired before 1997 to settle freely in Britain.
The Daily Telegraph launched a campaign calling for them to be admitted, with an online petition attracting hundreds of supporters in only a few hours.
Ministers, officials and lawyers were last night still working on the precise detail of the new policy. But sources said that the new rules will be enough to satisfy the central claim of Gurkha campaigners like Miss Lumley.
Government lawyers have warned that extending settlement rights to the oldest Gurkhas risks setting a legal precedent that could give the foreign veterans of other wars – such as the Second World War and Korea – a chance to claim residency in Britain.
In particular, ministers fear that the descendents of Gurkhas and other veterans could claim residency rights, and tomorrow's statement is likely to contain careful restrictions on the rights of Gurkha relatives and dependents.
"It has to be managed, but they will be able to settle," said one source last night.
The statement comes amid continued pressure on the Prime Minsiter over the issue, with a call by a powerful group of MPs for settlement rights to all Gurkha veterans.
The Home Affairs Select Committee also called for immediate settlement rights for the 1,400 outstanding applications which have been held in limbo during the row.
The chairman of the committee, Keith Vaz, wrote to Mr Brown last night following a private meeting with the Gurkha campaign group, including Miss Lumley, and Government officials.
He accused the Government of "overblowing" estimates that up to 100,000 former Gurkhas and families would come to Britain if rights were granted to all.
Officials admitted at the very most it would only be 84,000 while the campaigners put it at between 10,000 and 35,000, the letter said.
It revealed the Government has also now revised the cost to the taxpayer of such a move from the previous estimate of £1.4 billion to £3-400 million.
Gurkha groups consider that it will actually be in the region of £50 million.
The letter added that many of the Gurkhas would be of net benefit to the country as they would work and pay taxes.
Campaigners expect around 15,000 main applicants if rights are offer to all and the Home Office estimated that would take up to two years to process.
The committee added they found no evidence that such a move would affect recruitment in Nepal or its economy or create a legal precedent for those from other Commonwealth countries who have served in the armed forces.
The letter concluded: "We believe that Britain has a moral debt of honour to the Brigade of Gurkhas and that this can be realised along the lines suggested here."
All Gurkha veterans will be given the same right to settle in Britain, ministers will announce on Thursday.
The statement will confirm a significant political victory for campaigners led by the actress Joanna Lumley.
Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, is expected to signal the new policy in the Commons today, with a formal statement from the Home Office on Thursday.
The vote followed a growing chorus of public and political anger against Government refusals to allow Gurkhas who retired before 1997 to settle freely in Britain.
The Daily Telegraph launched a campaign calling for them to be admitted, with an online petition attracting hundreds of supporters in only a few hours.
Ministers, officials and lawyers were last night still working on the precise detail of the new policy. But sources said that the new rules will be enough to satisfy the central claim of Gurkha campaigners like Miss Lumley.
Government lawyers have warned that extending settlement rights to the oldest Gurkhas risks setting a legal precedent that could give the foreign veterans of other wars – such as the Second World War and Korea – a chance to claim residency in Britain.
In particular, ministers fear that the descendents of Gurkhas and other veterans could claim residency rights, and tomorrow's statement is likely to contain careful restrictions on the rights of Gurkha relatives and dependents.
"It has to be managed, but they will be able to settle," said one source last night.
The statement comes amid continued pressure on the Prime Minsiter over the issue, with a call by a powerful group of MPs for settlement rights to all Gurkha veterans.
The Home Affairs Select Committee also called for immediate settlement rights for the 1,400 outstanding applications which have been held in limbo during the row.
The chairman of the committee, Keith Vaz, wrote to Mr Brown last night following a private meeting with the Gurkha campaign group, including Miss Lumley, and Government officials.
He accused the Government of "overblowing" estimates that up to 100,000 former Gurkhas and families would come to Britain if rights were granted to all.
Officials admitted at the very most it would only be 84,000 while the campaigners put it at between 10,000 and 35,000, the letter said.
It revealed the Government has also now revised the cost to the taxpayer of such a move from the previous estimate of £1.4 billion to £3-400 million.
Gurkha groups consider that it will actually be in the region of £50 million.
The letter added that many of the Gurkhas would be of net benefit to the country as they would work and pay taxes.
Campaigners expect around 15,000 main applicants if rights are offer to all and the Home Office estimated that would take up to two years to process.
The committee added they found no evidence that such a move would affect recruitment in Nepal or its economy or create a legal precedent for those from other Commonwealth countries who have served in the armed forces.
The letter concluded: "We believe that Britain has a moral debt of honour to the Brigade of Gurkhas and that this can be realised along the lines suggested here."
