After a couple of weeks of government sleaze stories it’s nice to read good news for a change.
After a ‘U’ turn by the government, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 can settle in the UK with their immediate families.
What I found strange was Ms Smith saying that she was "proud to offer this country's welcome to all who have served in the brigade of Gurkhas". Why was she proud yesterday, but didn’t give a toss when this was discussed a few weeks ago?
I don’t know if this decision was prompted by people power or by government spin, trying to catch a few votes!
Whatever the reason, justice has prevailed.
In another story, the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), who have been running the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme since 1988, have found that the number of dormice fell by 9% between 2002 and 2008, compared with 31% from 1992 to 2002.
PTES said there was "reason to be optimistic" that conservation efforts were proving effective.
Jim Jones of the PTES, said: "While the slowdown in the decline is very encouraging, the species is still in decline, so conservation and monitoring efforts remain a priority if dormice are not to disappear from the British countryside."
There have been 16 successful reintroductions of more than 600 dormice in the past 16 years.
One small step for conservation, one giant leap for dormice!
And finally, two years ago to this very day, everyone thought that the 140 year old tea clipper, ‘Cutty Sark’ had gone forever when fire ravaged through the ship’s three decks at it’s berth in Greenwich, south east London.
With much dedication, skill and millions of pounds it is announced that this national treasure will be reopened to the public next year.
When the restoration is complete, the ship will have more than 90% of her original features, which is an achievement worth applauding.
I, for one, will be pleased to see this Phoenix arise from the ashes!
After this little round up of the brighter side of life, I can truly say, dear reader, ‘Have a nice day’!
Showing posts with label Gurkhas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gurkhas. Show all posts
Friday, 22 May 2009
Thursday, 30 April 2009
The End Is Nigh!
Poor old Gordon Brown. He must be wondering today if even his wife and kids love him.
What a week for him! His Chancellor was caught out lying about the speed of economic recovery, less than two days after his Budget. To keep face with his party, he had to do a temporary U turn on MPs second homes, and now, probably the worst moment of his career, the one that even the political commentators didn't see coming, he has suffered his first defeat in a Commons vote.
When Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg called for a motion to offer all Gurkhas equal right of residence in the UK, the Government were expected to win, if only by the skin of their teeth. But lose they did, the motion being carried by 267 votes to 246, with 27 labour rebel backbenchers voting in favour of it, even though Mr Brown tried to do a deal with them. This in effect means that Mr Brown was defeated by his own party!
This was the first time that a government had lost an opposition day debate since Jim Callaghan in January 1978, and fourteen months later he was forced to call an election.
Mr Clegg must have been feeling smug, it was the Lib Dems biggest Commons victory in their twenty one year history.
As soon as the result was announced there were shouts of “resign!”. Perhaps this should have been offered as a motion as well!
This was one battle the Gurkhas weren’t expecting to win, but in the end, justice prevailed.
It’s not cut and dried yet but I’m sure it wouldn’t be presumptious to open the champagne bottle.
Even if Mr Brown reneges on this one, the Gurkhas have kick started the beginning of the end of New Labour, and I for one salute them for that!
What a week for him! His Chancellor was caught out lying about the speed of economic recovery, less than two days after his Budget. To keep face with his party, he had to do a temporary U turn on MPs second homes, and now, probably the worst moment of his career, the one that even the political commentators didn't see coming, he has suffered his first defeat in a Commons vote.
When Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg called for a motion to offer all Gurkhas equal right of residence in the UK, the Government were expected to win, if only by the skin of their teeth. But lose they did, the motion being carried by 267 votes to 246, with 27 labour rebel backbenchers voting in favour of it, even though Mr Brown tried to do a deal with them. This in effect means that Mr Brown was defeated by his own party!
This was the first time that a government had lost an opposition day debate since Jim Callaghan in January 1978, and fourteen months later he was forced to call an election.
Mr Clegg must have been feeling smug, it was the Lib Dems biggest Commons victory in their twenty one year history.
As soon as the result was announced there were shouts of “resign!”. Perhaps this should have been offered as a motion as well!
This was one battle the Gurkhas weren’t expecting to win, but in the end, justice prevailed.
It’s not cut and dried yet but I’m sure it wouldn’t be presumptious to open the champagne bottle.
Even if Mr Brown reneges on this one, the Gurkhas have kick started the beginning of the end of New Labour, and I for one salute them for that!
Friday, 24 April 2009
Make This A Land Fit For Real Heroes!
Today, Gurkhas and ex-Gurkhas who retired before 1997, those Nepalese soldiers that are everything a super-hero should be, courageous, brave, loyal and law abiding, will find out if the Government are going to grant them the right to settle in the UK.
How much discussion and paper shuffling in Whitehall did it need to come to a decision? This was a no-brainer, surely. Even the High Court told the Home Secretary in September last year that the immigration laws denying them the right to settle were unlawful.
This regiment has fought for Kings and Queens and Country for nearly two hundred years. 45,000 of them have died over those years. They have picked up every bravery award going, from the Victoria Cross, down.
Even though the British Government has defecated on them from a great height, not only by denying the right to settle in the UK, but by awarding them less than half of a British regular army soldier’s pension when they retire, back in Nepal they are still clamouring to join this noble regiment.
How do they feel when they see the Government welcome immigrants, from countries that these men have fought and died against, with open arms, people that have contributed absolutely nothing to this country, people that are only here to take advantage of our lax benefits system, when the Gurkhas are denied the same right.
Jaqui Smith, take a leaf out of the Gurkhas book and be loyal too.
All they asking for is your signature on that piece of paper!
How much discussion and paper shuffling in Whitehall did it need to come to a decision? This was a no-brainer, surely. Even the High Court told the Home Secretary in September last year that the immigration laws denying them the right to settle were unlawful.
This regiment has fought for Kings and Queens and Country for nearly two hundred years. 45,000 of them have died over those years. They have picked up every bravery award going, from the Victoria Cross, down.
Even though the British Government has defecated on them from a great height, not only by denying the right to settle in the UK, but by awarding them less than half of a British regular army soldier’s pension when they retire, back in Nepal they are still clamouring to join this noble regiment.
How do they feel when they see the Government welcome immigrants, from countries that these men have fought and died against, with open arms, people that have contributed absolutely nothing to this country, people that are only here to take advantage of our lax benefits system, when the Gurkhas are denied the same right.
Jaqui Smith, take a leaf out of the Gurkhas book and be loyal too.
All they asking for is your signature on that piece of paper!
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