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Minister defends Gurkha approach No 10 denies Lumley 'Gurkha snub'
(about 2 hours later)
Ministers have defended their policy on the Gurkhas again, amid claims they are overstating the likely cost of allowing all the ex-soldiers to live in the UK. No 10 has denied it snubbed requests from Joanna Lumley for a meeting with the prime minister over the right of Gurkhas to settle in the UK.
Immigration minister Phil Woolas told MPs decisions on who was allowed to settle in the UK must be guided by the law, not merely "political populism". The actress and campaigner said she wrote three letters to Mr Brown over the issue but none were acknowledged.
Ministers have previously suggested the figure could be more than £1bn. But No 10 said all the letters were acknowledged and Ms Lumley was offered a meeting with the home secretary.
But fellow Labour MP Martin Salter said the cost of allowing all Gurkhas into the UK could be close to £425m. Ms Lumley, who still wants to meet the PM, said a member of the Royal Family had written to her backing her stance.
Ramifications Letters of support
Mr Salter, one of many Labour MPs who chose not to back the government in a Commons vote last week, told the home affairs select committee that ministers were quoting the upper end of the likely cost of allowing all Gurkhas into the UK. Ms Lumley wants all Gurkhas to be given equal right to settle in the UK, no matter when they served in the British army.
Estimates of the likely cost ranged from £425m to £1.6bn according to the government's own projections, he said.
At the same hearing, Mr Woolas denied ministers had misjudged popular opinion over the issue, leading to the embarrassing parliamentary defeat last week.
Mr Woolas, who has previously warned that an open-door approach could cost billions of pounds, said the financial and legal financial ramifications of letting all Gurkhas to settle could not be ignored.
"Political populism does not change the facts," he said.
Some 36,000 Gurkhas - a brigade of Nepalese soldiers who serve in the British Army - have been denied UK residency because they left before 1997.Some 36,000 Gurkhas - a brigade of Nepalese soldiers who serve in the British Army - have been denied UK residency because they left before 1997.
I don't know who else I go to now Joanna Lumley The government is reviewing its rules for admitting Gurkhas after it lost a Commons vote on the issue last week, in what was a major blow to Gordon Brown's leadership.
No 10 said suggestions that it ignored three letters from Ms Lumley over the issue were incorrect.
I have had a lot of detailed letters from people around the country saying whatever it costs, we want them all here as a debt of honour Joanna Lumley
Mr Brown had been aware of the letters, a spokesman said, adding: "We responded by arranging a meeting with the home secretary".
No 10 said it would consider a further request from Ms Lumley to meet with the prime minister to discuss the matter privately.
Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms Lumley accused the government of "scare tactics" over the likely cost to the taxpayer of letting all Gurkhas settle in the UK.
"I have had a lot of detailed letters from people around the country saying whatever it costs, however much we owe them in pensions, however many NHS beds they take up, we want them all here as a debt of honour," Ms Lumley said.
The BBC's Royal Correspondent Peter Hunt said Ms Lumley had confirmed she had received a letter from a member of the Royal Family backing her campaign but that it had not come from either the Duke of Edinburgh of the Prince of Wales.
On the defensive
Ministers have again defended their policy on the Gurkhas, amid claims that they are overstating the likely cost of allowing all the ex-soldiers to live in the UK.
Immigration minister Phil Woolas told MPs decisions on who was allowed to settle in the UK must be guided by the law, not merely "political populism".
Mr Woolas, who has warned an open-door approach could cost billions of pounds, said the financial ramifications of letting all Gurkhas to settle could not be ignored.
"Political populism does not change the facts," he said, arguing ministers had not misjudged the public mood over the issue.
But Labour MP Martin Salter said the cost of allowing all Gurkhas into the UK could be close to £425m but that ministers were consitently quoting a figure of £1.5bn, right at the top end of estimates.
Ministers recently introduced rules allowing more of these older soldiers to settle in the UK based on long service, medals received, and injuries suffered in battle.Ministers recently introduced rules allowing more of these older soldiers to settle in the UK based on long service, medals received, and injuries suffered in battle.
The Home Office said the change would allow about 4,300 in, but the Gurkha Justice Campaign said it would be just 100.The Home Office said the change would allow about 4,300 in, but the Gurkha Justice Campaign said it would be just 100.
The head of the UK Border Agency told MPs that she expected about 4,000 to be admitted under current regulations, including 2,200 who had completed 20 years service. The head of the UK Border Agency told MPs that she expected about 4,000 to be admitted under current regulations.
Rebel MPs have warned the issue will not "go away" until the government changes its policy.Rebel MPs have warned the issue will not "go away" until the government changes its policy.
Labour was defeated on a Lib Dem motion calling for former Gurkhas who served before 1997 to be given the same rights to settle in the UK as those who served after that date.Labour was defeated on a Lib Dem motion calling for former Gurkhas who served before 1997 to be given the same rights to settle in the UK as those who served after that date.
In response, ministers have agreed all outstanding applications for residence by Gurkhas would be dealt with by the end of May and a review of the regulations would follow.In response, ministers have agreed all outstanding applications for residence by Gurkhas would be dealt with by the end of May and a review of the regulations would follow.
Meeting with PM
Appearing before MPs, actress and Gurkha campaigner Joanna Lumley praised the 27 Labour MPs who voted against the government, leading to the first major parliamentary defeat of Gordon Brown's premiership, as "brave".
Ms Lumley said she had written to Gordon Brown three times to arrange a meeting over the issue but had not received a reply.
"I don't know what I have to do," she said.
"I don't know who else I go to now. We have gone to the High Courts, we have gone to the press, we have gone to the people of the country, we have gone to Parliament. If that is not enough, who do we go to?
Ms Lumley said government claims that up to 100,000 people could come to the UK as a result of a change of immigration policy were a "fantasy".
There had been only 1,350 outstanding applications from pre-1997 Gurkhas, she said.