Joanna Lumley and Peter Carroll, founder of the Gurkha Justice campaign, are to hold a press conference tomorrow to respond to criticism of the campaign.
From yesterday’s Independent:
Joanna Lumley today hit out at what she claimed was a Government smear campaign that saw her accused of “deathly silence” over Gurkhas’ rights.
Earlier this month, defence minister Kevan Jones expressed “irritation” with the actress amid claims that Nepalese veterans had been misled and exploited. “Her deathly silence, frankly, irritates me,” he said.
But in a letter circulated today, Ms Lumley denounced the allegations.
Signed by the actress, campaigner Peter Carroll and legal advisers Howe & Co Solicitors, it reads: “We feel that these comments are part of a set of actions that constitutes a broader attempt to taint the widely-welcomed positive outcome of the Gurkha Campaign.”
Last year, after a lengthy battle spearheaded by Lumley, MPs agreed to throw out rules that prevented retired Gurkhas from settling in the UK.
But recently questions have been raised concerning the advice given to those wishing to make the move.
Read the full story here.
Peter Carroll, Liberal Democrat PPC for Maidstone and the Weald said,
Does the government really want to pick a fight with Joanna Lumley six weeks before a general election? We cannot understand the motivation for this unless it is a massive outbreak of sour grapes. [Times]
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One Comment
Go for it Peter. How stupid of Labour, to want to shoot themselves in the foot. Just the boost you need to take Maidstone; go for it.