Nick Clegg attends protest calling for greater rights for Gurkhas

On Wednesday 19th March, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will be speaking at the protest outside Parliament demanding increased rights for Gurkhas. Shepway Lib Dems are supporting the Gurkhas protest, with local members Dhan Gurung, Peter Carroll, Neil Matthews, Darren Briddock, Tim Prater and others planning on joining the protest in Parliament Square.

Nick Clegg will be calling for an end to the forced deportation of retired Gurkhas and asking the Government to allow all retired Gurkhas the right to live in the UK, regardless of the date they retired. Currently only those that retired after 1997 have the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the country. Pension rights for service years of service before 1997 are also dramatically lower than for service after that time.

Fifty retired Gurkhas will be handing over their long service and distinguished conduct medals to demonstrate their strength of feeling at being denied these basic rights. Nick Clegg will arrange to hand the medals in to Downing Street on their behalf.