GOVERNMENT TREATMENT OF GURKHAS IS A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT - WILLOTT

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Apr 2009

Commenting ahead of today's Liberal Democrat Opposition Day Debate on the Gurkhas, Jenny Willott, Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, said:

"The Government's proposals on the Gurkhas are shameful and an embarrassment to the whole country.

"People who are prepared to fight and die for our country have surely earned the right to live here.

"I have been overwhelmed by the strength of feeling from my constituents who have contacted me to say how appalled they are at the way this Government is treating the Gurkhas. I will be showing my support for their views by voting against the Government's proposals this afternoon.

"Labour has completely lost its way recently: from an utterly dishonest budget, to making MPs' expenses even less transparent, and now shutting the door on its loyal soldiers who only want to live in the country they have served so well."