CONSERVATIVES SLAM SHARMA'S GURKHA HYPOCRISY

 Ealing Conservatives have today slammed Virendra Sharma MP for hypocrisy after he last night voted against a motion in the House of Commons asking the Government to re-think its policy on Gurkhas’ right to live in the UK.

Mr Sharma’s opposition to the motion in the House of Commons last night was in direct contrast to the support Mr Sharma gave to a motion at a meeting of Ealing Council on the 21^st April. Indeed Mr Sharma not only voted in favour of the motion, but also spoke in favour.

Council Leader, Cllr Jason Stacey, said “Many Gurkhas attended the council meeting on the 21^st April and they heard Mr Sharma speak in favour of their cause and all parties represented on Ealing Council voted to support the motion in favour of the Gurkhas campaign”

“How can an elected MP and Councillor speak and vote one way and then just eight days later do the complete opposite? Mr Sharma can try all he likes to wriggle out of this one but many Gurkhas in this borough will feel completely betrayed by an MP who has treated them with such contempt.”

The following motion was passed unanimously by Ealing Council on the 21^st April 2009:

2. Campaign for Gurkah Citizenship Rights

            Councillor Dawn Larmouth to move:

“This Council acknowledges its gratitude to the Gurkhas of Ealing who have fought and sacrificed for the United Kingdom, and supports their campaign for citizenship rights.

This Council notes that the Government announced in September 2004 a change in immigration rules that allowed Gurkhas who had served in the British Army to settle in the United Kingdom with their families.

This Council notes with concern however that this offer has only been extended to cover those Gurkhas who had served at least four years and been discharged after 1st July 1997.

This Council believes that, given the exceptional service they have given to the United Kingdom, Gurkhas and their families should be given fast track eligibility for either the right to remain or citizenship.

This Council urges Ealing’s three MPs to support the campaign for Gurkha rights.”

Cllr Virendra Sharma MP attended this council meeting, spoke on and voted in favour of this motion

The following motion was laid before the House of Commons on 29^th April 2009

Resolved,

That this House regrets the Government’s recent statement outlining the eligibility criteria for Gurkhas to reside in the United Kingdom; recognises the contribution the Gurkhas have made to the safety and freedom of the United Kingdom for the past 200 years; notes that more Gurkhas have laid down their lives for the United Kingdom than are estimated to want to live here; believes that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 should be treated fairly and in the same way as those who have retired since; is concerned that the Government’s new guidelines will permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle whilst preventing the vast majority; further believes that people who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live in the country; and calls upon the Government to withdraw its new guidelines immediately and bring forward revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas.

Virendra Sharma MP, according to Hansard, voted against this motion (unlike numerous of his Labour colleagues)