|
Dear Editor
Leconfield resident Denis Healy asks why I back
the Government’s stage by stage approach to the resettlement of
Gurkhas in the UK (Mail, 7 May). I reject his
accusation that the Government is “heartless”.
The Brigade of
Gurkhas has served this
country bravely for 200 years. I am proud that since 1997 our Labour Government
is the first and only government to give UK settlement rights to
Gurkhas - as well as giving them fairer treatment on pensions and
other issues.
The current debate is mainly about Gurkhas who
retired before 1997, and
their dependants. We cannot ignore the link
between this issue and wider immigration laws – especially
regarding the costs for taxpayers and implications for jobs and
public services.
These are complex
questions that the Government must resolve carefully. Otherwise, we
could set legal precedents for the treatment of
Commonwealth soldiers and other immigration categories, from many
nations outside the European Union. This could involve hundreds of
thousands of people.
However warm our
sentiments towards 36,000 former Gurkhas, the Government has a
responsibility to run a fair, firm and consistent immigration
policy. We cannot sign a blank cheque and hope that it
is not cashed too quickly. I could never support an
unrestricted open door immigration policy.
This is why I oppose Lib Dem
plans for an amnesty, leading to full UK citizenship, for hundreds
of thousands of immigrants currently living in the UK illegally.
This irresponsible open door policy would encourage law-breakers
and make Britain a magnet for a huge wave of mass
immigration.
I provide further
detail on these issues at my website on www.dianajohnson.co.uk.
Yours sincerely
Diana Johnson
MP
Hull North
| 
11 May 2009: To Hull Daily Mail - published 15 May 2009
