The Home Office has bowed to public opinion an decided to allow VC Here Tul Bahadur Pun to settle in Britain. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said today...
"The circumstances surrounding Tul Bahadur Pun's case are clearly exceptional, and in the light of this the Home Secretary, John Reid, and I have reviewed the case and made the decision to grant Mr Pun a settlement visa immediately. This decision was not taken lightly and reflects the extraordinary nature of this case, in particular Mr Pun's heroic record in service of Britain which saw him awarded the Victoria Cross. It is entirely right that this record should not only be recognised but honoured. There has always been scope to grant settlement in the UK to ex-Gurkhas who have retired before July 1997, and who do not meet the requirements in the immigration rules. As on this occasion, discretion may be exercised on a case by case basis. We have also taken into consideration his current medical condition.
Next time anyone says to you that it doesn't matter what you do, nothing ever changes, cite this example. It would not have happened without pressure from public opinion, media and, dare I say it, blogs.
31 comments:
Excellent. I joined the Facebook group
It would be nice if you could keep us informed of his progress Iain, and of anything else the blogsphere could do to help him.
Well done highlighting the issue - a victory for decency
At last something this goverment can be proud of, tho they were pushed.
I must confess that I am bemused as to why he wants to move here, but if that is what he wants then who am I to disagree. Hope he finds somewhere nice to live.
This was the right thing to do.
The man deserves respect.
Blogs can have an impact. When does he get an apology from the Gov.
I am please with the result. The earlier Home Office ruling was disgusting.
I get the feeling that John Reid and the Home Office seems to be run by the press- mainly the readers of the News of the world and the Daily Mail. Is this man (Reid thats is) not capable of coming up with ideas and making decisions on his own back. If not not, what is he there for?
He constantly panders to the press. This case just happens to be something where the press had it right- resulting in the right result. Unlike with some of Mr Reid other announcements like - scraping the human rights act , these new Sus laws and Sarah's Law for instance.
The man is an idiot and should resign immediately. And he is not the only one.
There's no reason at all for this government to be 'proud of' anything at all. The fact that they were faced down by public reaction means that they have no idea at all of public sentiment. They are, simply, completely out of touch. The question is - do they give a shit?
The decision may reflect public opinion but it should never have come to this in the first place - simple as that. However, it is gratifying that Mr Pun will now get the healthcare he deserves and that the blogosphere had a not incosiderable part to play.
Awesome news and good on you for highlighting the issue. You can be rightly proud.
Any chance of getting him on 18 Doughty Street? He'd be more interesting that most of your guests.
Iain, please interview him on 18 Doughty Street.
I think the Home Office has become fixated by the idea that it is vital to be seen to be 'tough on immigration' in all cases and the original decision was a kneejerk reflection of this. Happily common sense and decency have prevailed, thanks to public pressure.
Next time anyone tells you the Government doesn't listen...
I predicted a few days ago, on this blog, that the decision would be reversed, once the media got on to it. Without the glare of publicity, of course, nothing would have happened.
I am not sure we can blame the minister. I suspect the original decision was taken by some half-witted civil servant who just followed the rule book, and lacked the intelligence to refer this particular case to someone higher up.
What's the significance of "retired before 1967" ?
Woops "retired before 1997" ?
Makes you wonder how the Independent/BBC would have reported his act of bravery today:
"War crime alleged as Gurkha massacres "unarmed" Japanese in illegal war"
I hope they can find a home for him at the Chelsea Pensioner place?
Hooray!
Well done to Iain for blogging on this topic, to the many thousands who blogged, posted, emailed or snail mailed, and especially to Mr Pun's dogged and determined solicitors!
A belated well done to the politicians who reversed the earlier decision....you should have acted immediately, but well done nonetheless for responding to the public mood.
Excellent and welcome to England Mr Pun VC.
Don't judge the whole country by our cretinous government, which England didn't vote for anyway.
Thank you Mr Pun VC for shaming this most shameless of Governments.
As Vanity Blair continues to add to his Air Miles and carbon footprint on his "I am wonderful aren't I? Tour" an 83 year old man has to walk or be carried 80 odd miles to collect his pension.
Great Britain..would the last one to leave please turn out the lights.
Excellent result!
Well done Iain for getting behind this campaign. I noticed 'PM' were claiming some credit, which is fair enough, but you were off the mark far more quickly..
Well done Martin Howe.
Re Yak40 reference to 1997, prior to that year Gurkhas when they retired were effectively treated as non persons and received minimal pensions etc not comparable to those granted to British soldiers.This really meant that the tens of thousands of Gurkhas who had fought during the war and in many conflicts thereafter were forgotten about except for organisations like the Gurkha Welfare trust and many live in penury and still do. After 1997 and additional subsequent changes means that the treatment of serving Gurkhas when they retire has been much improved but this did not help the previous generations of Gurkhas. Those generations ( incl their widows)still rely on the Gurkha Welfare Trust to provide top up pensions and give other aid.
Wouldn't it be appropriate for our glorious leader to meet Mr Pun on the tarmac when he arrives so he can apologise for the shameful way his Government has treated him.
Fat chance though, like all those other brave service personnel who have been killed as a result of the "policy" entered into through deceit and deception he will not be honoured and respected and instead be treated as an inconvenient nuisance!
Some good news at last!
I hope they roll out the red carpet for Mr. Pun, he deserves it.
I'm usually pretty cynical about charities, but this one looks worthwhile: http://www.gwt.org.uk/
Hopefully, Mr.Pun's case will highlight their predicament.
They say they need about £3m a year, Tony just blew £900k on his long farewell, I wonder how much Mr.Prescott spent?
'
Well done, Iai & all Mr P's supporters
Yr obedeint servant etc
G E
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