Like many other people in Folkestone and Hythe, I am proud that Shorncliffe Barracks near Folkestone is home to 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles. 

In his speech at the party conference David Cameron called on the government to allow Gurkhas who retired before July 1997 to have the right to live in Britain, and receive citizenship.

Under rules introduced by Labour, only those who had retired after this date had this right. The High Court has now ruled that this is unfair, and I hope that the Government will amend the law to reflect this.

It is believed that around 20,000 Gurkhas have been denied this right to claim British citizenship. Which is a small number compared to the 160,000 people who has their applications approved last year.

The letter and spirit of our law, has not reflected the spirit and character of these fighting men.

We should basically have one standard for all - that if you are prepared to die for Britain, you should also have the right to live in our Britain.