The Government has bowed to demands for fresh reform of Gurkha veterans' settlement rights after embarrassment for Gordon Brown. Skip related content A bid to scrap new settlement criteria, brought by the Liberal Democrats, was surprisingly backed by MPs by 267 votes to 246.
Despite the defeat and strength of feeling, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said ministers could not responsibly or fairly rush into the formulation of new policy at this stage.
However, he has promised the next steps will be brought before Parliament's summer recess and also said he will bring forward the date for determination of outstanding applications under the current rules to the end of May.
"This will ensure those who qualify under the guidelines now in force get confirmation of this as soon as possible," he said, adding: "This Government respects the will of the House of Commons."
Meanwhile, actress Joanna Lumley, who has been involved with the Gurkhas in their campaign, said: "When it came through we saw it on the screen and I can't tell you the sense of elation, the sense of pride - pride in our country, pride in the democratic system and pride in our Parliament."
Earlier, during PMQs, the Prime Minister suggested Britain could not afford the £1.4 billion cost of an open door policy for Gurkhas but promised to keep the issue under review.
Last week, the Home Office announced that despite appeals from Gurkhas and their supporters, they would not allow veterans discharged before 1997 the automatic right to settle in the UK.
Instead, strict criteria would be applied to settlement claims such as length of service, bravery medals and service-related medical conditions.
But during the cross-party debate in the Commons, some Labour MPs went against Government policy and joined protests over what campaigners call a "betrayal" of the former soldiers.
Brown's embarrassing Gurkha defeat - Yahoo! News UK 
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Originally Posted by dave lukins
Ah Captain, I see that you also have noted Tankies blandishment and redolent use of the Queen's english. I have a feeling in my water that he is a tad shy and diffident and is holding back on what he truly wants to sayAs we are all aware, this fault lies in his avuncular nature and I fear wild horses will not change his gentle and tolerant nature
)
Why do the Gurkhas actually want to settle in the UK? OK, mine would be a really unpopular view in this thread, but I'll throw it in anyway: With their current higher pay and pensions based on foreign exchanges, wouldn't it make more sense for them to retire to a comfortable middle-class life in Nepal than to try a carve out a life for their family from the bottom-up in UK? I understand that in the past the pension (though not the pay) was very low, and it didn't even come with the education and medical facilities IA service offered. But as long as those needs are addressed in Nepal - better pensions, educational and medical facilities for families; and other needs wherever they are serving - like better career mobility, more liberal leave etc.; I don't see the long-term benefits of immigration to either the most regular Gurkhas or the UK. In fact, pushing the MoD too far on this issue may tempt them to disband the Regiment altogether and bury it from public scrutiny... as the idea was floated in 1997! 
but seriously , the public outrage (justified) made them retreat , i think wisely so as well . 
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