Back Gurkhas now - Lib Dems tell Keith Hill

5.40.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 1st May 2009

Liberal Democrats in Streatham are calling on Keith Hill, Labour MP for the area to support the Gurkhas after he voted against proposals to allow those who had fought for Britain to remain in the UK.

Leading the call is campaigner Chris Nicholson who has written to Keith Hill to express his disappointment about the fact that Keith Hill voted to back to the Government's policy of deporting Gurkhas.

The vote on a Liberal Democrat motion was held in the House of Commons on 29th April and resulted in a shock defeat for the Government. Keith Hill sided with the losing side, despite the overwhelming popular support for the Gurkhas. "I was greatly disappointed that Keith Hill voted for thousands of Gurkhas to be deported from the UK," said Chris Nicholson. "But the Government was defeated because a few brave Labour MPs defied their party bosses and backed the Gurkhas who have so bravely fought for Britain. "The Government has a moral duty to support those who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and fight for our country. I am sorry that Keith Hill has voted the opposite way. "The Government must take notice of the will of Parliament and bring back new proposals that will allow Gurkhas to stay rather than have them kicked out of the country. I have written to Keith Hill MP urging him to have a change of heart and press Minister to bring forward new proposals as soon as possible."