Reading has a significant number of Gurkha ex-servicemen and their families, and Reading Liberal Democrats have joined some politicians from other parties, including retiring Reading West Labour MP Martin Salter, and the current Mayor of Reading Cllr Peter Beard, in campaigning for Gurkha justice and better welfare for Gurkha families.
Yesterday was an historic day for the Ghurkas. Nick Clegg’s motion to grant these brave soldiers the right to live in Britain passed by 267 votes to 246. It was a victory for justice. Clegg was absolutely right to press Gordon Brown on the moral principle at stake during PMQs- namely, that if you are prepared to die for this country you should have the right to live here.
The depressingly familiar defence from a Government that has embraced xenophobia and nationalism was to employ their favourite bogeyman – “uncontrolled mass immigration”. Given that so many Ghurkas have laid down their lives over so many years this is incredibly disrespectful.
Consider, though, that the first half of the twentieth century was ravaged by two world wars, of which rampant nationalism and xenophobia were significant causes. Consider furthur that many of the Ghurkas who have served this country so bravely died in these wars. Herein lies the level to which Gordon Brown’s morally bankrupt government will stoop to prevent justice being done.
Nevertheless it was a significant day for the Ghurkas, and one on which I felt proud to be a Liberal Democrat. However in the rush to acknowledge those MPs from other parties who voted with us we should perhaps consider the decision of the chair of the all-party parliamentary group campaigning on behalf of the Ghurkas, one Martin Salter MP. The current Labour MP for Reading West abstained at the crucial point.
Fortunately the motion went through, but he was not to know. Salter was clearly prepared to sell out the Ghurkas and his parliamentary colleagues in a shameful act of betrayal. Quite frankly he should resign from his position as Chair. There is no other honourable course of action. Sadly I doubt that he will display even the slightest fraction of the dignity of the courageous Ghurkas who were rightly celebrating yesterday.
Patrick is Lib Dem PPC for Reading West.
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2 Comments
This week we saw Gordon Brown lose irretrievable grip on the moral authority that he had hitherto claimed by dint of his so called `moral compass’ platform for Government.
The lost `moral authority’ is now firmly with Nick Clegg and Vince Cable and Chris Huhne, on all important issues, that go to the heart of the Nation, as we enter a bitter Recession that this Government must now admit a major failing and culpability in bringing about and into so many lives of hard working British families.
1.There is no unanimity of direction in leadership on the Economy, save for sagely wisdon and analysis, from Vince Cable. `The Storm’ tells the real narrative of how Britain is where it is today, in terms of its economic ills and how `greed’ by the few,went unchecked, at the cost of the many.
2.Nick Clegg had shown supreme moral leadership that all Gurkhas, whom fought for Britain, should have the right and freedom to choose to live in Britain in perpetuity.
What moral planet has Labour been living on in seeking the denial of rights of settlement to the courageous and patriotic Gurkhas, whom served Britain, since 1815?
3.Chris Huhne has led on the right of each individual to remain free from close unsolicited surveillance and denial of human liberty.
Chris Huhne has uniquely and humanely defended the right of British citizens, to fight the constant erosion and curtailment of their human freedom.
Jacqui Smith is responsible for this `Big Brother’ formulated ID Card and national d/b, that has and continues seriously to set alarm bells ringing in the minds of all supporters of liberty.
ID Cards will cost the taxpayer over £2B and I ask how many Gurkhas could be resettled with that money and new police on the streets in the inner Cities?
4.The Damien McPoison or `Mad-dog’ McBride incident, has served as a watershed and referendum, amongst the fragmenting ebbing tide of decent Labour voters.
How many Labour voters are prepared to stick with their `principles’ that depend on a close `operator culture’?
Do they want to suspend a large swathe of individual human rights for decent people, that were defined best by J.M. Mill and made into law by 200 years of Liberals and are now patently being put at irretrievable risk, by this Government?
5.The type of humanity represented to the Country by Simon Hughes, has demonstrated an unequivocal moral authority, in his listening to the pleas from the dying lips of one Tamil `hunger and water’ striker,laying outside Parliament, whom has been on a suicide crusade for peace, to stop the annihilation of the Tamils, in Sri Lanka.
I totally agree – well said It is unbelievable, after Martin Salter unleashed his full motor-mouth powers against the government’s decision on the Gurkhas.