I was disappointed that Rushmoor Borough Council has refused to discuss a Motion to support the request of the British Gurkha Welfare Society (BGWS), based in Farnborough, for a House of Commons Select Committee to establish an Inquiry on Gurkha Pensions as a matter of urgency, writes Lt (Hon.) Gyan Sherchan.

“I have sorry experience as a Gurkha veteran with 29 years’ service in the British Army about how bad our pensions are compared to those of other soldiers with the same service and the same rank.

“When I left the Army, it seemed wrong that, for my 29 years’ service, I would have a pension equivalent to that for any other soldier of my rank with about 8 years’ service.

“Then, 14 years ago, the Ministry of Defence devised the Gurkha Offer to Transfer (GOTT), which gave Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) members (retired or serving) with service on or after 1 July 1997 an option to move from the GPS to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) –  on the basis that Gurkha veterans would then have the same annual increases as other soldiers – which seemed fair at the time.

“However, we now know that, if we had remained in the GPS, our pensions would have been much higher than they are in the AFPS.

“I know because I am one of the GOTT victims – whereby my monthly pension has reduced by more than £200 since last year.

“Once again, we Gurkha veterans feel that the British Government has cheated us, despite our long years of loyal service in the British Army.

"It is not unusual for the Conservative Government to refuse to support the Gurkhas. Historically, there are many occasions when Conservatives have objected to Gurkhas, of which I can relate:

► Gerald Howard MP (now Sir Gerald) objected to the proposal of the British Gurkha Welfare Society (BGWS) that Gurkhas should have Equal Pensions. We then witnessed a media war between BGWS Chairman Major (Retd) Tikendra Dewan and Mr. Howarth.

► In 2010, a group of local people took their lead from Mr. Howarth and protested on Facebook to remove all Gurkhas and Nepalis from Rushmoor and to stop any more coming in.

► In 2014, Mr. Howarth created a disturbance during a meeting in Parliament to hear evidence about Gurkhas’ grievances, led by Jackie Doyle-Price MP (Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkha Welfare).

"Now, the Conservative Leader on Rushmoor Borough Council has refused discussion of a Motion proposed by Councillor Alex Crawford (Labour) asking the Council to support the BGWS request for a House of Commons Select Committee to establish an Inquiry on Gurkha Pensions as a matter of urgency.

“Thousands of Gurkha veterans and their families live and work in Rushmoor. Many of us feel sad that the Conservative Leader would not agree to discuss a Motion supporting the BGWS request for a House of Commons Select Committee to establish an Inquiry on Gurkha Pensions as a matter of urgency – but not surprised in view of the Conservatives’ past record on Gurkha issues.”