84-year-old gurkha gets to stay in uk

[angusglover]

Like I said, only recently.

The pay was not backdated or anything like that. They served for us basically for a pittence (sp).

[angusglover]

I would add at this point that they are some of the most loyal, fearsome, committed and respectful soldiers I ever served and worked with.

Mad little fookers but I would rather have them in the tent p*ssing out......

[Old Greg]

http://www.army.mod.uk/brigade_of_gu...new_gtacos.htm

Thanks for that. I didn't know they'd updated the pay as well as pension. I didn't see anything aboutright of abode in UK or automatic British citizenship. In fact, it specifically said that they would remain Nepalese citizens throughout their service and at the end would have compulsory discharge to Nepal. Am I missing something?

[andy]

Thanks for that. I didn't know they'd updated the pay as well as pension. I didn't see anything aboutright of abode in UK or automatic British citizenship. In fact, it specifically said that they would remain Nepalese citizens throughout their service and at the end would have compulsory discharge to Nepal. Am I missing something?

Learn to read between lines like Troll

[Old Greg]

Learn to read between lines like Troll

I can't read between your lines. What do you mean?

[Troll]

Thanks for that. I didn't know they'd updated the pay as well as pension. I didn't see anything aboutright of abode in UK or automatic British citizenship. In fact, it specifically said that they would remain Nepalese citizens throughout their service and at the end would have compulsory discharge to Nepal. Am I missing something?

It's on other pages...http://www.army.mod.uk/soldierwelfar...gon/index.html

New citizen rights for Commonwealth Service personnel - Commonwealth soldiers serving in the British Armed Forces abroad can now gain UK citizenship under a change to the rules announced by the Home Office on 22 November 2006.

To reflect the commitment and sacrifice made by Service personnel from outside the UK in the British forces, they will now be eligible to apply for citizenship despite having been stationed abroad for the majority of their service.

Also..what do you think this means?

On 30 Sep 04 the Government announced that a decision had been made to change the immigration status of retired Gurkhas by including them in a new immigration rule for HM Forces (based upon the Armed Forces Concession which had previously been available to soldiers recruited from Foreign and Commonwealth countries on discharge in the UK). The new rule, HM Forces Immigration Rule, has been in place since 25 Oct 04

right of abode in UK perhaps? if so, what was the purpose of the whole BBC story

[The Lone Gunman]

if so, what was the purpose of the whole BBC story

Possibly something to do with his age? When do you think he retired? Were those rule changes retrospective to all?

There have been a number of rule changes all fairly recently which quite rightly have offered citizenship to foreign fighters who have served our army. Most of those rules have not been applied to people who have already left the army.
Many of these foreign soldiers have a sense of honour which has prevented them from asking for what the deserve.

[Old Greg]

It's on other pages...http://www.army.mod.uk/soldierwelfar...gon/index.html

Also..what do you think this means?
right of abode in UK perhaps? if so, what was the purpose of the whole BBC story

Thanks for the further info, but I'm still confused by what looks like a contradiction between the info and the BBC story. The point of the BBC story was that he wasn't enititled to UK citizenship and had no automatic right of abode in the UK - the case was described as 'exceptional'. So how does that all work?

[The Lone Gunman]

Thanks for the further info, but I'm still confused by what looks like a contradiction between the info and the BBC story. The point of the BBC story was that he wasn't enititled to UK citizenship and had no automatic right of abode in the UK - the case was described as 'exceptional'. So how does that all work?

Because he is 84. I suspect he retired before any o fthat was made available and it wasn't retrospective.

[Troll]

Thanks for the further info, but I'm still confused by what looks like a contradiction between the info and the BBC story. The point of the BBC story was that he wasn't enititled to UK citizenship and had no automatic right of abode in the UK - the case was described as 'exceptional'. So how does that all work?

As I alluded to in my earlier posts... it all smacks of 'management' –i.e. release a story to the press so preposterous than it beggars belief, let the Government mouthpiece aka the BBC run with the story to whip up outrage and then announce a u-turn.

You need to read more into this spin centred establishment to understand what is really going on