Gordon backs Gurkhas rights
Gordon Marsden has backed Blackpool-based Gurkhas who are celebrating an historic victory which will allow them to stay in the country.
Joan Humble, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, and Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, joined 25 other Labour MPs in supporting a motion calling for Gurkha settlement in the UK.
Visiting the Mojo Bar in Blackpool over the weekend Mr Marsden said: "It's not a decision we took lightly. The Government has done an awful lot but we didn't feel they had gone far enough.
"Joan and I are loyal Labour Party MPs but we have never been afraid to exercise our own views and those of the people we meet. We know the debt of honour we owe to the Gurkhas."
MPs voted by 267 to 246 to give the troops from the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal equal rights to settle.
Mrs Humble said she felt compelled to support their plight after meeting Gurkhas with Mr Marsden at Burma Star celebrations in Blackpool.
She added: "Even though I acknowledge the huge amount the Government has done for Gurkhas and the concessions ministers made, they hadn't done quite enough.They are amazing people who have risked their lives for our country. We should have an equal system for everyone and criteria that covers all Gurkhas."
11/05/2009
