Victory for Ghurkas in settlement battle

Thousands of retired Ghurkas today were granted permission to move to the UK after the British government relented on its policy of denying the Nepalese soldiers automatic settlement rights.

Campaigners including actress Joanna Lumley, who had spearheaded the campaign for Ghurka rights, reacted with jubilation after the announcement by British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that all Gurkha veterans with four years’ service would be allowed to move to the UK.