Midlands BNP leader demands Gurkhas are banned from staying in UK

Veteran soldiers have rubbished a Midland BNP leader for claiming there is ‘no space’ in Britain for Gurkha heroes.

Simon Darby said his far-right party wanted the Government to ban the Nepalese soldiers from living in the UK. But his comments were condemned by the Royal British Legion, days after the Gurkhas won a landmark victory to settle here following a campaign led by Ab Fab actress Joanna Lumley.

Deputy BNP leader Mr Darby, who is standing as a West Midlands candidate in next month’s Euro elections, was filmed saying the famous fighting soldiers should be barred from Britain earlier this month. He had been questioned on the BNP’s stance on the issue and said: “This question highlights the way the British army is opening itself up to become a mercenary army, with so many foreign people serving in it. It’s a bad idea, right, a bad idea.

“Nowhere in the Gurkha’s contracts – all those Gurkhas – does it say that you have a right to live in this country after your service. Yes, within reason some of them can stay. But 100,000 people? For Heaven’s sake. It’s not on is it? No.”

But Robert Lee, Head of Campaigns at the Royal British Legion, said: “We have made it possible for 186 Gurkhas to live here while they campaigned for justice. “In that regard we are 100 per cent Joanna Lumley and 0 per cent BNP. The Royal British Legion fully supports the rights of the Gurkhas to live in Britain because we feel they would make a long-lasting and valuable contribution to society.”

And a spokesman for anti-fascist campaigners Searchlight also criticised the BNP comments. He said: “It’s difficult to know what is more nauseating, Darby’s prejudice or his hypocrisy. In public he pretends to support the Gurkhas, but in front of his bigoted supporters he attacks them as mercenaries. The Gurkhas have fought and died for this country for generations, yet even they are not immune from Simon Darby’s vile smears.’’

The video emerged in the same week BNP leader Nick Griffin was condemned for claiming ‘Gurkha ghettos’ would emerge should they win the right to settle in Britain.

But Mr Darby, who previously attracted criticism for calling Ugandans ‘spear-throwers’, defended his latest comments about the brave foreign soldiers.

He said: “Look, I don’t want to see a couple of old boys get kicked out, but the idea of 100,000 of them coming over is just unacceptable, there just isn’t enough space. It is simply a matter of space. For me the answer is to allow them medical treatment and give them a proper pension, but they shouldn’t be allowed to settle here.”

Birmingham Post

Lumley: BNP sickos slur hero Gurkha

Angry Joanna Lumley last night blasted a British National Party leaflet targeting a heroic Gurkha recently killed in action.

The Ab Fab star branded as “disgusting” the racist party’s use of a picture of Corporal Kumar Pun* with a cross through it. Thousands of the hate-filled leaflets also demand: “Stop this illegal Gurkha immigration.”

They were issued by teacher Adam Walker, a BNP candidate in next month’s European elections. His party warns of “Gurkha ghettos” if the Nepalese fighters win the right to settle here.

Joanna, 63, said: “The use of a brave British Army Gurkha’s photograph as part of their political campaign is disgusting, especially as he has not yet been buried. A vote for the BNP is a vote against all Gurkhas, against honour, sacrifice, duty and courage.”

Joanna yelled their war cry “Ayo Gorkhali” — “The Gurkhas are coming — outside the House of Commons last month after MPs backed her bid to let all Gurkhas who served in the British Army live here. Ministers ruled last week that Corporal Kumar’s widow and two daughters can stay in Britain. But in his leaflet for the European elections, Mr Walker, of Durham, uses scare tactics to demand they are sent packing.

It reads: “The Government would allow over half a million Gurkhas into this country. This will swamp our local housing and the NHS as most Gurkhas are elderly. They would contribute nothing.”

Last night a spokesman for the anti-racist group Searchlight said: “For the BNP to slur the memory of a serviceman who has laid down his life for his country is sick beyond belief.”

Sedgefield Labour MP Phil Wilson added: “This leaflet just shows what the BNP stand for. I was shocked. I didn’t think that even this party would go that far. It’s an absolute disgrace.

Gordon Brown has promised to review Gurkhas’ rights after a campaign led by Joanna, whose father fought with the brigade. About 36,000 have been denied UK residency despite being prepared to die for the country.

BNP leader Nick Griffin warned of “Gurkha ghettos” and vowed to remove all non-serving Gurkhas.

Technology teacher Mr Walker, 39, left Houghton Kepier Sports College in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, in 2007. He is being investigated over claims he used a school laptop in lessons to contribute racist views to online chats.

Sun

* Cpl Kumar, 31, was blown up ten days ago alongside three British soldiers in Afghanistan.