Gurkhas - Betrayed again!

To some degree I have been supportive of the necessary cuts to get our country economy back in line (I only hope they reverse some of them when things are better, but I know it is probably a mere pipe-dream). 

I even understand that cuts in the military are necessary (though as with most of the cuts, the choices in what is cut seems to be front-line services rather than dealing with back-room excess and wastage)

What is intolerable is that a single small regiment (3% of the army) have over 50% of the compulsory redundancy. How convenient for the government that the majority of the soldiers serving in this regiment do not have the right to vote in the UK. Even more convenient is the fact that the Gurkhas will be using a different system to calculate their redundancy pay so they will receive less money.

The Gurkhas have a long and proud history, for more than 200 years young Nepalese men have left their homes to fight and die for Britain. For years they revived less pay, and had no right to remain in the country they fought for when they retired. Now having won a huge battle to obtain the right to citizenship of Britain, they are now being made redundant.

Nick Clegg - our Valiant? Deputy Prime Minister was so loud in the fight to get them citizenship and equal pay, seems to be being as meek as a mouse now they are getting the sack as a result.

It is about time our politicians and the people of the UK recognised our Military Personnel. They fight and die for what we believe in, on distant shores far from the ones they love. They deserve more than to be used as mere puppets and cost cutters in a pathetic party political game.

Some redundancy may be necessary,  but let's make them equal and as few as possible. Look at the contracts the military make in detail, and get value for money rather than just throwing it away. Look at excessive bureaucracy and cut it down, then when we have cut wastage back as much is possible then we can look at redundancy's, though hopefully with the money saved only voluntary redundancy's would be necessary.

Outside of that, it is up to the people of the UK to support our service personnel, both active and retired, especially in these hard times - 

I put out a call across the UK, to all businesses - Give a discount to servicemen, both current and retired. Lets show them our appreciation and make them realise how proud of the we are!

I out a call to all Communities, actively support the family's and personnel in your community. Family's that live off base far too often lack the support that those surrounded by other military family's get - lets work together and make sure they all get the support they need.