GORDON BROWN SUFFERS A SHOCK DEFEAT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS GHURKHA MOTION

Joanna Lumley campaigning for the Ghurkha Justice Campaign

Today the Ghurkha Justice Campaign, led by actress Joanna Lumley, has won its battle for citizenship rights to be granted to all the Ghurkhas who have fought in the British Army. Gordon Brown's Labour Government was defeated in a Commons Motion proposed by the Liberal Democrats and supported by David Cameron and MPs of all parties. The voting was 267 votes to 246. Phil Woolas the Immigration Minister then effectively admitted defeat by announcing that new proposals would be published before the Parliamentary summer recess, respecting the will of the House of Commons.

Britain has no greater friends than the Ghurkas who have served across the world in the defence of Britian for 200 years. Over 45,000 died in the two World Wars serving in the British Army and they are still fighting in the British Army today.

Gordon Brown decided on 25 April to discriminate against Ghurkhas with less than 20 years' service in the Army, a target impossible for lower ranks to achieve as they can only serve for 15 years. 36,000 Ghurkas would be denied UK residency because they served in the British Army before 1997 and do not meet new qualifications in respect of service, medals received and injuries - a poor reward for years of loyal service to Britian by these brave soldiers.

Meanwhile Gordon Brown has just returned from yet another overseas jaunt to persuade world leaders of his 'global economic expertise'. His first visit was to Poland. There at a joint press conference the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk extolled the virtues of avoiding debt. Mr Task said that Poland has gained from 12 years of consecutive economic growth, due to efficient supervision of banks and a refusal to live on credit. Last month the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet embarrassed Mr. Brown before the G20 Summit when she said that the Chilean economy had performed so well because they saved during the good times as a cushion for the economic recession.

It is about time Gordon Brown stopped preaching to world leaders, listened to their greater wisdom in managing their own economies and come home to sort out the huge economic mess he has created in the UK over the last 12 years.

VISITING OUR FRIENDSHIP TOWN IN POLAND

WLOCLAWEK in POLAND

At present I am nursing a badly bruised left arm caused by a fall during a visit to Wloclawek in Poland 10 days ago. This trip was organised by Dom Polski, an Anglo Polish social club in Bedford and we paid our own costs although the Mayor of Wloclawek hosted 2 social functions for the 23 strong Bedford Group.

In 2003 just before Poland joined the European Union and Polish immigration was rising fast the Mayor of Bedford downgraded Wloclawek from official twin town to friendship status. The stated reason was the weakness of the Polish link but Bedford has a large Polish community, 2 Polish Clubs, a Polish church, shops and restaurants.

Much of Bedford's town twinning budget goes on the link with Bamberg in Germany and some is allocated to Bedford's other official twin town, Rovigo in Italy, which has strong sporting links with Bedford and there is a large Italian community in Bedford. Official hospitality is no longer extended to visitors from Wloclawek.

The Borough Corporate & Resource Committee which I chair conducted a detailed
9-month Twinning Policy Review into whether the twinning budget offers value for money for Bedford Borough taxpayers and our conclusion was negative. No grants are offered to voluntary town twinning or international community groups.

In March we made 18 Policy Recommendations to the Executive based on their stated objective of facilitating community engagement in twinning. This Report has been largely ignored, although some minor changes have been made.

As a member of Bedford Bamberg Association and Dom Polski I have visited Bamberg, Wloclawek and also Rovigo and will continue to support community twinning exchanges.