Historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely

11.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Apr 2009

Nick Clegg in support of rights of Gurkhas

MPs, led by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP voted to allow the Gurkhas who retired before 1997 the right to settle in the UK. Nick Clegg said:

"This Government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn't understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake.

"People who are willing to die for our country, should be allowed to live in our country.

"The Government must listen to Parliament and scrap these shameful rules immediately and grant justice without conditions to all retired Gurkhas."

Many people were angry about the way in which Gordon Brown and his Immigration Minister Phil Woolas had failed to listen to public demands for fair treatment for the Gurkhas.

EMLD is pleased that Parliament has voted to to reject the Government's policy on Gurkhas wishing to come to the UK and hailed this as a victory for decent British liberal values.