Government 'clear on Gurkha policy'.Summary: Beleaguered be·lea·guertr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers 1. To harass; beset: We are beleaguered by problems. 2. To surround with troops; besiege. immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. minister Phil Woolas Philip James Woolas, known as Phil Woolas, (born 11 December 1959[1] in Burnley, Lancashire, England[2]) is a politician in the United Kingdom. has insisted the Government "knows exactly what it is doing" over Gurkha residence rights. Beleaguered immigration minister Phil Woolas has insisted the Government "knows exactly what it is doing" over Gurkha residence rights. Mr Woolas was speaking after his extraordinary televised clash with leading campaigner Joanna Lumley Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE (born 1 May 1946) is an English actress and former model who is best known for her roles in The New Avengers, Absolutely Fabulous, Sapphire and Steel and Sensitive Skin. who confronted him after some veterans received letters rejecting their claims to live in the UK. Tension was partly defused when he explained that the letters were a legal requirement and that the ex-soldiers, including Falklands and Gulf War veterans, would have their cases reconsidered when new rules are devised. Applications were considered under conditions introduced by the Home Office last month, which ministers have pledged to re-examine re·ex·am·ine also re-ex·am·ine tr.v. re·ex·am·ined, re·ex·am·in·ing, re·ex·am·ines 1. To examine again or anew; review. 2. Law To question (a witness) again after cross-examination. following their Commons defeat last week on a motion demanding all former Gurkhas be allowed to live here. But Ms Lumley, who had been told by Prime Minister Gordon Brown the previous day in a one-to-one meeting that he was taking personal charge, said Downing Street Downing Street, Westminster, London, England. On the street are the British Foreign Office and, at No. 10, the residence of the first lord of the Treasury, who is usually (although not necessarily) the prime minister of Great Britain. had been unaware of the letters and she had to help keep them in the loop. The confusion has led to accusations that Mr Brown is presiding over a policy shambles. But Mr Woolas said: "The Government knows exactly what it is doing. "The difficulty the Government has is that its explanations are not being comprehensively reported and we are seeing snapshots of a campaign." Asked why the letters had been sent at all, he said: "Sometimes the law does not seem to comply with common sense. "The Government has to be careful not to create dangerous legal precedents. "The Gurkhas may be a special case morally, but legally you cannot legislate To enact laws or pass resolutions by the lawmaking process, in contrast to law that is derived from principles espoused by courts in decisions. on the basis. I can't say 'let the nice people in and the nasty people not'. We have to have a law." He said he accepted the principle that "if you are prepared to die for this country you should be allowed to live here" but warned it could open up retrospective cases for other Second World war veterans. His example was mocked by Ms Lumley, who told the programme: "I am an old age pensioner old age pensioner old (Brit) n → Rentner(in) m(f) and I was born after the war. The men fighting in the Second World War are now so old." [c] Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. [c] Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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