Prime minister Gordon Brown has apologised to Joanna Lumley and those behind the Gurkhas campaign for creating “negativity” around their efforts.
On Monday, March 29, defence minister Kevan Jones apologised to the actress who spearheaded the protest, moments before she hit back at his claims in a press conference.
Mr Jones said his only concern had been to stop middle-men “ripping off vulnerable ex-Gurkhas” trying to move to the UK by charging them huge fees before they were directed towards legal advice.
He claimed there had been a “deathly silence” from Ms Lumley since her successful campaign to win settlement rights for Gurkhas, alongside Peter Carroll, prospective Lib Dem candidate for Maidstone and the Weald.
Ms Lumley said “We’ve come here, really, almost with a sense of regret, that we’ve had to come to this, which is really, clearing our names in public.
“Over the past month or so, articles have been appearing which must have put doubt into the hearts of all the people who supported the Gurkha justice campaign and the wonderful policy which was won for retired Gurkhas to be allowed the right to come and settle in this country.”
But those behind the campaign say the doubts have now been lifted after Gordon Brown phoned the actress and apologised for the comments coming from the Ministry of Defence.
The campaign, which was started by Mr Carroll in 2004, forced a government u-turn and allowed retired Gurkha veterans to live in the UK.
Since the victory, campaign organisers said they felt villified by the Government after suggestions they were giving false hope to Gurkhas.
A parliamentary inquiry looking into allegations that the soldiers are being encouraged to pay hundreds of pounds in voluntary donations to veterans’ organisations in Nepal, which then refer them on to UK solicitors, has also been set up.
Mr Carroll said: “I took eight calls on my phone from Downing Street on Monday trying to get through to Joanna and I was there when Gordon Brown got through and apologised.
“I think this draws a line under everything and the mood of negativity around the campaign has now been banished.”