Lib Dem Campaigner Peter Carroll has reacted with delight to the news that retired Gurkha soldiers are to be allowed to apply for British citizenship. Peter was a leading figure in the lengthy and high profile campaign that saw the issue reach the national press, national radio and TV, the floor of the House of Commons, the national Lib Dem conference at Bournemouth and 10 Downing Street.
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.
The Shepway Liberal Democrats are leading the campaign for citizenship for Gurkhas online according to leading search engine Google.
The Daily Express yesterday reported that the campaign to grant British citizenship for the retired Gurkhas took a step forward on Tuesday when Tony Blair hinted he may be ready to drop the ban on Gurkha heroes remaining in Britain. He promised action within "weeks".
Peter Carroll has launched a petition to help the Gurkhas in their campaign to be given citizenship when they have completed their service. The Home Office is sitting on hundreds of applications for citizenship from retired Gurkhas. Some applications have been under consideration for over 2 years. Only a few days ago, a retired Gurkha was deported.
For many months, a planning application on Dunstall Lane in St Mary's Bay has been causing huge controversy within the community.
Michael Howard's unwillingness to help the Gurkhas in their fight to be granted UK citizenship has been slammed as "simply outrageous" by local Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll who is the challenger to Michael Howard in his Folkestone seat.
Peter Carroll yesterday travelled over 600 miles to back Gurkhas seeking to stay and contribute to Britain at the end of their military service. The Liberal Democrats are strongly backing the Gurkhas position that they should be allowed to stay, if they wish, at the end of their service, as citizens in this country.
Local Lib Dems want to know residents' views on the disused gardens in Thanet Gardens.
Shepway Council's Liberal Democrat group have condemned the decision of the Conservative ruling group to approve a cut of £30,000 from the budget to be spent by the Council this year on fighting crime and anti-social behaviour.
At last nights group meeting of the Shepway Liberal Democrats, Cllr Linda Cufley resigned as the leader of the group. Members of the group have the greatest respect for Linda, and for all the work she has done over the last 21 years for both this district and her colleagues. As Linda explained to the group last night, the reason for her resignation was to enable the group to move forward as a whole.
Statement from Brian McAndrew, Chief Executive of Shepway District Council:
