tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38067964.post7531366165809938310..comments2024-01-11T10:25:57.007+00:00Comments on Labour of Gove: Those Plucky Gurkhas: Sanctimonious Tories Spin On HeelsChris Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38067964.post-60707818271507591412009-04-30T20:15:00.000+01:002009-04-30T20:15:00.000+01:00What hasn't been discussed in the Gherka debate is...What hasn't been discussed in the Gherka debate is our relationship with Nepal. From what I hear, the Nepalese government are resistant to carte blanche settlement in the UK because they want their people to return home (skilled etc). It's already being suggested that they would be resistent to future recruitment of Ghurka's if we took their people on a permanent basis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38067964.post-91156409725039068272009-04-30T11:38:00.000+01:002009-04-30T11:38:00.000+01:00I've seen this reference to Hong Kong Evan. Though...I've seen this reference to Hong Kong Evan. Though I'm not really quite sure how that worked. I'll try to find out.<br /><br />But surely you must agree that there is a fundamental problem with David Cameron's opportunistic approach to this matter?<br /><br />He stood up at PMQs and challenged Labour to adopt the simple approach of letting everyone with Crown Service - Gurkha or otherwise, length of service unspecified, numbers and costs seemingly irrelevant - resettle in the UK.<br /><br />Liam Fox almost immediately blustered his way to a completely different position to this Simple Pimple nonsense from Cam.<br /><br />As you may know there are ways and means (now seemingly more codified and adaptive, thanks to Labour) for Commonwealth soldiers to apply for ILR and naturalisation. But there are no promises. No right of abode. Just basically the system as applied to other workers who decide they'd rather like to remain in the UK.<br /><br />Not as far as I know retro acting. Any former commonwealth soldier not released in the UK, or released here but gone away, would have to gain entry and remain legally for three or possibly five years before being eligible for naturalisation.<br /><br />Liam Fox seemed to be saying that far from doing what Cam said in PMQs that there would just be some small concession at the margins. The example he blustered out was of some bonus points in the standard points-based entry process.<br /><br />This Tory position is hollow as hell. IMO.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38067964.post-52594572050966839602009-04-30T10:48:00.000+01:002009-04-30T10:48:00.000+01:00You've forgotten (along with Mandelson - although ...You've forgotten (along with Mandelson - although I suspect that he has deliberately done so) that Hong Kong was in the picture until 1997.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com