David Chadwick is seeking a better deal for former Gurkha soldiers.
The Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP spoke in the House of Commons in support of an amendment to the Government’s Armed Forces Commissioner Bill which he believes will help win Gurkha veterans better treatment.
Video from parliamentlive.tv
The Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP spoke in the House of Commons in support of an amendment to the Government’s Armed Forces Commissioner Bill which he believes will help win Gurkha veterans better treatment.
Video from parliamentlive.tv
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00I stand today in support of amendment 2 proposed by the hon. Member for Epsom. As the Member
00:11of Parliament for Brecon, Radnor and Comptower, I am proud to represent a constituency with
00:17a deep and enduring military history. It is home to Brecon Barracks, the headquarters
00:22of the British Army in Wales, and the 160th Welsh Brigade, alongside the Sennybridge training
00:27area where thousands of British service members train in the Brecon Beacons.
00:32My constituency is also home to a vibrant Nepalese community, made up of former Gurkha
00:38soldiers and their families, an integral part of our community's fabric. Gurkhas, renowned
00:44across the world for their bravery, professionalism and humility, have called the Brecon area
00:49home for over 50 years. They have settled here during their distinguished service in
00:53the British Army and have since become an invaluable pillar of our local society. In
00:58fact, Brecon is now proudly twinned with Dampus in Nepal, symbolising the bond between our
01:04two nations. However, it is the past treatment of Gurkhas in the UK that compels me to support
01:11this amendment. Despite their service to the United Kingdom, the Gurkhas have faced significant
01:17discrimination for many decades. Many will remember the Gurkha justice campaign, which
01:23gained momentum thanks to the tireless efforts of Dame Joanna Lumley and the support of the
01:28Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg. It was through this campaign that a crucial parliamentary
01:34vote was won, granting all Gurkha veterans the right to reside in the UK, despite opposition
01:40from the Labour Government of the time.
01:43But it was not only residency rights where the Gurkhas faced discrimination. They faced
01:49inadequate support after leaving active service, receiving less pay than their British counterparts
01:55for the same jobs, and many were deprived of fair pensions. Even today, veterans who
02:01served before 1997 continue to struggle for equal recognition and treatment. It is my
02:07firm belief that this amendment, especially the call for the Armed Forces Commissioner
02:12to produce annual reports on the challenges faced by specific groups and to establish
02:17mechanisms for community engagement, will help ensure that no group ever has to suffer
02:23injustice like the Gurkhas ever again. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this
02:30vital amendment.