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.