A DEBT OF HONOUR; WHERE GURKHAS HAVE SERVED THE BRITISH ARMY.

Byline: JAMES LYONS; GRAHAM BROUGH

MINISTERS face an embarrassing revolt today when MPs vote on limiting the number of Gurkhas allowed to live in Britain.

Angry Labour backbenchers on the powerful Home Affairs select committee have launched a rebel motion ahead of this evening's ballot.

Tories including MP Patrick Mercer and Lib Dem members have also signed the motion, branding the new rules "unnecessarily restrictive, morally wrong and offensive".

The guidelines state Gurkhas must show they have 20 years of service to be allowed to stay in the UK - but the longest a Gurkha can serve in the Army is 15 years, unless they become an officer.

Eight committee members, including chairman Keith Vaz, warned that the new rules will mean 1,500 veterans - including Falklands heroes - are deported.

The rebel motion was tabled by committee member Martin Salter.

Mr Salter has written to fellow Labour MPs urging them to sign up and revolt in the Commons vote, which was triggered by the Lib Dems.

He said: "This is a moral issue and far more important then narrow party political squabbling.

"This is about doing the right thing by people who risked their lives for us."

Ab Fab star Joanna Lumley will join Gurkha heroes at a lobby of MPs before the vote.

The rebels cannot overturn the Home Office ruling, but they hope to humiliate ministers.

Mr Salter predicted a "very significant" revolt, with loyal junior members of the government going AWOL rather than backing ministers.

He said: "I think it has the potential to be a very significant rebellion.

"There are a lot of people who will abstain, including Parliamentary Private Secretaries who are normally loyal."

More than 40 Labour MPs signed another rebel motion earlier this year.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has called the Commons debate and vote to put ministers on the spot. Immigration minister Phil Woolas is expected to take the flak for the restrictions, announced last Friday.

Mr Woolas and a defence minister will also be forced to justify the rules again at a special hearing of the Home Affairs committee next week.

Ms Lumley, 62, whose father fought alongside the Nepalese soldiers, is also being invited to give evidence.

Mr Clegg urged MPs of all parties to unite behind the Gurkhas.

He said: "People who are prepared to fight and die for our country should be entitled to live here.

"Yet even this basic principle is broken by this out of touch and morally bankrupt Government.

"Our debate will force the Government to explain its insulting decision to turn its back on these brave soldiers.

"MPs of all parties will be able to vote against the Government and force Gordon Brown to back down, even at this late stage."

1817 - Pindaree War, India

1857 - First Indian Rebellion. 2nd Gurkha Rifles march 30

miles a day to relieve the British garrison at Meerut

1858-1917 - Burma, Afghanistan, North-East and North-West frontiers of India, Malta, Cyprus, Malaya

1877 - 1878 - Russo-Turkish War

1900 - Boxer Rebellion, China

1905 - Tibet

1914-18 - During the First World War more than 200,000 Gurkhas served in the British Army, with 20,000 casualties. They fought at Loos, Givency, Neuve Chapelle and Ypres. Rifleman Kulbir Thapa won the regiment's first VC, rescuing a colleague from under heavy German fire. He stayed with the wounded man for a day and a night, then carried him to safety, returning to the line to assist two more wounded men. They also fought in Mesopotamia, Persia, Suez Canal and Palestine as well as Gallipoli and Salonika.

1919 - Third Afghan War

1939-45 - The Gurkhas served in all areas of allied operations, including Syria, North Africa, Italy, Greece and the jungles of Burma, India and Singapore. They earned 2, 734 bravery awards as well as 12 VCs and suffered 32,000 casualties.

1965 - Borneo uprising

1982 - Falklands War

1990s - Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor and Sierra Leone

Currently - Iraq, Afghanistan

CAPTION(S):

East Timor, 1999 Colour Sergent Krish Dura, who was the last Gurkha to be killed while serving Britain in Afghanistan last November A Gurkha soldier holds up his Khukri knife, 1944 BACKING Tory MP Patrick Mercer Gurkhas on patrol in Kosovo, 1999 Afghanistan, 2009