Local Gurkhas Bring Conference To It's Feet.

Local Gurkhas received three standing ovations at the National Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth. The Gurkhas had been invited to the conference by local Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll. Mr Carroll has been helping the Gurkhas in a nationwide campaign to get the right to live in the UK as citizens when they retire. The Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy was present during the debate.

Peter Carroll said, 'It is an outrage that these fine warriors are treated so unfairly. If the Gurkhas are good enough to fight and die for this country, they are good enough to be made citizens'.

Currently, over 400 retired Gurkhas are awaiting a decision about whether they can remain in the UK. The retired Gurkhas face the very real risk of being deported if their applications are turned down.

Charles Kennedy took the very unusual step of personally thanking Tikendra Dewan, himself a retired Gurkha, who addressed the conference. It is only in the most exceptional circumstances that non Party members are given the opportunity to address the national conference.

Retired Gurkha, Bidur Pakhrin, who lives in Cheriton endorsed the speech made by Tikendra Dewan who said, 'We are simply asking for the right to live in the society that we have served over generations. I would like to thank the Great British public, the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy and Peter Carroll for their help and support'.

Tony Blair has promised that a decision about the Gurkhas fate will be made by the end of this month.