General Chat

I hadn't seen this until someone posted it on FB

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-24666528

if you feel they have a case

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/56332

Signed,


Roy

Already signed but it needs the publicity

Very disappointed that more members have not signed this petition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13372026

The Gurkha's were always recruited on the basis that they would retire back to Nepal where the army pension would ensure that they could live in some style. The Gurkha wages wre more than enough for the men to build a decent house in Nepal. That is why Nepalese men were so keen to join the army.

During the 1980s and 1990s Nepal had a civil war where the communists ( aided and abetted by Brave Dave's good mates the Chinese ) tried to take over and the King went nuts. That is why Gurkha's started to choose to retire to the UK.

So now thanks to Joanna Lumley's crusade Hampshire has a large number of Gurkhas and their families living around Aldershot and insufficient means of support. Thanks to Joanna Lumley's campaign the long term future of the Gurkha regiment is also uncertain.

These men signed up to retire to Nepal and pay/pensions were on that basis. They knew perfectly well that the Nepal pension was not enough to live on in the UK.

Living fighting and dying for the Crown has never guaranteed a right of residence in the UK. Ask the relatives of the Poles who flew for the RAF for instance or Brits born in Harare.

I have not and will not sign the petition.
The pre-1997 people should go home - the civil war is long over.

Interesting Rollo, I am now unsure as to where I stand on the subject :-(

perhaps someone can give us a middle way.

I think ref the Poles who flew in WW2, is a somewhat different situation perhaps? in that they joined the RAF here to in order to free their occupied homeland in a time of war.

Interesting point thoughRollo, I wonder if the Gurkhas who are now settled here have taken citizenship and are now British, would that alter the view? that as ''british' ex soldiers they should be entitled to the full pension?

excuse typos, typing one fingered, cuddling sleeping kitty

Please excuse me for not replying if anyone posts here, I am disconnecting the PC and may be offline for a few days or longer till set up again :-)

Rollo, Your prerogative,

Actualy it was never part of a Gurkhas contract that on retirement they would return to Nepal, It was however compulsory for them to return to Nepal for them to be discharge from service, It was only ever an assumption that Gurkhas would retire to Nepal,

A Gurkhas pay was lower than the rest of the british army and they were only allowed to serve a max of 15 years unless they exeeded the rank of CPL their pension was based on the years served, A british soldier can serve 22 years Plus in some circumstances so will recieve a higher pension rate due to the rate of pay and years served,

A Gurkha was payed a pension from the date of discharge for life were as a british soldier had to wait until he was 60 years old to collect his but he could collect a percentage in one lump sum on discharge and the remainder into his pension pot

To blame Joanna Lumley for the things you list is wrong.

The long term future of any regiment in the british army is uncertain, Lots have been disbanded over the last 50 years,

"Hampshire has a large number of Gurkhas and their families living around Aldershot and insufficient means of support"
The amount of Gurkhas and their families are miniscule compared to the rest of the migrant population. Are you against all immigration or just Gurkhas,

I would rather have peoples who have served our country stay and intigrate over those who come here simply as migrant workers or to rape our system


Roy

I have signed and support the Gurkhas


Thanks RR and GB for highlighting it here on GR

and agree with you Roy

Rollo ..... no comment

Thank goodness the Ghurka has called off his hunger strike

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25034143