Dhan Gurung and Peter Carroll hand in Gurkha medals to Downing Street

7.29.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jun 2008

Peter Carroll, Dhan Gurung and Tal Bahadur Pun and others present Gurkha medals to 10 Downing Street

Cheriton Councillors Dhan Gurung and Peter Carroll were amongst a delegation who presented the medals of Gurkha soldiers to 10 Downing Street today. The medals were being handed in at protest at the treatment the Gurkhas receive from this Government, who continue to deny the right of residence to Gurkhas who retired before 1997, and pay pensions a fraction of others in the British Army for years of service before then.

Peter Carroll commented after the presentation:

"I just think it's a very sad day when people who have served their country for the last 20 to 25 years are being forced into doing things like they've done today."

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg joined the Gurkhas outside the Commons at noon, shortly after addressing the issue during Prime Minister's Questions today, before witnessing the medal handover at Number 10.

A small media gathering also saw the exchange, where an official received the 50 medals from Victoria Cross winner Tul Bahadur Pun who was part of today's campaign group.

Peter Carroll says support for a change in pension and citizenship rights extends beyond the Liberal Democrats:

"Ann Widdicombe has championed their cause over many years and I know there are many Labour backbenchers who cannot understand their party's stance on this issue."