Global Changemakers

Wednesday marked a day of huge significance within British politics, which saw Gordon Brown’s Government defeated in the House of Commons for the first time since 1997, on it’s policy to restrict the right of many former Gurkha’s to settle in the UK – A topic which remains close to the British heart.

The Nepalese Gurkha’s have played a major part of British history, with more than 200,000 who fought in the two world wars and in the past 50 years they have served in; Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo and now in Iraq and Afghanistan loosing just over 40,000 dedicated soldiers.

Over the last few years they have been subject to discrimination from the British Government and the Ministry of Defence, which has angered the British public and the opposition Government, leading to a UK wide campaign fighting for Gurkha Justice. Calling upon the British Government to have the same terms and conditions as their UK and Commonwealth counterparts, which is currently denied as is the right for a fair and equal pension, with the Gurkha’s receiving a much smaller pension – at least six times less – than British soldiers, on the grounds that the cost of living is much lower in Nepal.

However more Gurkha’s are choosing to settle permanently in the UK with their families, which has seen a number of High Court battles, luckily going in the favour of those who dare fight the system. But only a tiny fraction of the Gurkha’s who retired before 1997 will win settlement rights under the new policy, a Gurkha will have to have served 20 years or more or won one of a handful of medals: the big majority of Gurkha’s served for 15 years under standard army policy.

Thankfully that is all about to change, MP’s voted by 267 to 246 for a Lib Dem motion offering all Gurkha’s equal right of residence, with the Tories and 27 Labour rebels backing it. Marking an absolute immense victory in British politics, with a sense of pride, felt by all of the British public! Which came as a huge shock for Gordon Brown, with many now questioning his future as Prime Minster, as he failed to gain the support of those rebellious backbenchers!

But this was down to the tireless efforts of those dedicated activists, of which I have had the pleasure of working with over the last five months; lobbying a number of MP’s, as well as helping to gain just over 500,000 signatures from the British public in a petition to the Government. We didn’t expect to win this vote, but because of the dedication and passion shown by all of the campaigns team led by actress Joanna Lumley, that result went in our favour – we made that change happen and now finally the Gurkha’s will have the long awaited Justice they deserve!

If your ever in doubt push and push again, because your voices do matter and they are heard, plus ultimately you can make change happen even if it takes a years or two!