00:00I stand today in support of amendment 2 proposed by the hon. Member for Epsom. As the Member
00:11of Parliament for Brecon, Radnor and Comptower, I am proud to represent a constituency with
00:17a deep and enduring military history. It is home to Brecon Barracks, the headquarters
00:22of the British Army in Wales, and the 160th Welsh Brigade, alongside the Sennybridge training
00:27area where thousands of British service members train in the Brecon Beacons.
00:32My constituency is also home to a vibrant Nepalese community, made up of former Gurkha
00:38soldiers and their families, an integral part of our community's fabric. Gurkhas, renowned
00:44across the world for their bravery, professionalism and humility, have called the Brecon area
00:49home for over 50 years. They have settled here during their distinguished service in
00:53the British Army and have since become an invaluable pillar of our local society. In
00:58fact, Brecon is now proudly twinned with Dampus in Nepal, symbolising the bond between our
01:04two nations. However, it is the past treatment of Gurkhas in the UK that compels me to support
01:11this amendment. Despite their service to the United Kingdom, the Gurkhas have faced significant
01:17discrimination for many decades. Many will remember the Gurkha justice campaign, which
01:23gained momentum thanks to the tireless efforts of Dame Joanna Lumley and the support of the
01:28Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg. It was through this campaign that a crucial parliamentary
01:34vote was won, granting all Gurkha veterans the right to reside in the UK, despite opposition
01:40from the Labour Government of the time.
01:43But it was not only residency rights where the Gurkhas faced discrimination. They faced
01:49inadequate support after leaving active service, receiving less pay than their British counterparts
01:55for the same jobs, and many were deprived of fair pensions. Even today, veterans who
02:01served before 1997 continue to struggle for equal recognition and treatment. It is my
02:07firm belief that this amendment, especially the call for the Armed Forces Commissioner
02:12to produce annual reports on the challenges faced by specific groups and to establish
02:17mechanisms for community engagement, will help ensure that no group ever has to suffer
02:23injustice like the Gurkhas ever again. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this
02:30vital amendment.
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