Absolute victory for Gurkhas

Milnrow and Newhey MP Phil Woolas and celebrity Joanna Lumley made up over a fish and chip supper hours before the Government’s U-turn over Gurkha settlement rights.

The Immigration Minister was famously pursued around a TV studio and press-ganged into agreeing further talks by Ms Lumley after she reacted with outrage to the rejection of appeals by Gurkha veterans to stay in Britain.

But after the Government’s announcement on new rules yesterday, Mr Woolas revealed the pair shared dinner and are now friends.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “It was a very productive meeting. Ms Lumley has devoted herself to this campaign because of her father.

“She is a tremendous advocate and, if I need her to support my own re-election campaign, then I will certainly be inviting her to come up to Oldham.”

He added that the climbdown was not only due to Ms Lumley’s campaigning but because “Parliament had given their say”.

Last month the Government suffered its first major defeat by 21 votes, as 27 Labour rebels joined the Tories and Liberal Democrats in demanding equal residency rights for all Gurkha soldiers.

Yesterday Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told cheering MPs: “I’m proud to offer this country’s welcome to all who have served in the Brigade of Gurkhas and wish to settle here.”

It means Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and served for more than four years will be allowed to apply for settlement in the UK.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen MP welcomed the decision. “I am delighted that our brave Gurkhas have finally been given this overdue justice," he said. "The Gurkhas, led by Joanna Lumley, have run a particularly effective campaign supported by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

“Whilst this is a U-turn by the Government, it is a welcome U-turn that will ensure that the principle that people who are prepared to die for our country, must be allowed to live here is correctly applied.

"This decision is too late for many of our brave Gurkhas who have died in the knowledge of this Government’s inhospitable and self serving attitude towards them.

"I have received hundreds of emails from local people about this issue, many of them ex-servicemen who served alongside our brave Gurkhas.

"I am pleased that the Liberal Democrat Motion that defeated the Government made a huge contribution to this decision and I will be pleased to welcome the Gurkhas to Rochdale.”

Rochdale Councillor Peter Clegg, who served alongside the Gurkhas said, “This day is a day that many of my former Gurkha Colleagues thought would never happen.

"Exaggerated claims that we would be inundated with Gurkhas, costing £1.4 Billion has not been helpful and far off the mark.

"The embarrassing Commons defeat, orchestrated by my party, was the defining point in this campaign.

"36,000 Gurkhas, who left before 1997 have already been denied UK residency and they will be pleased to see justice at last.

"Joanna Lumley has shown passion, commitment and an unswerving desire to get justice for our brave Gurkhas. This decision is Absolutely Fabulous!”