British government still trying to exclude Gurkha veterans

In spite of the recent parliamentary embarrassment over their cack-handed efforts to exclude Gurkha veterans, the British government continues to show that they haven't given up:

The government's policy towards the Gurkhas descended into a potentially hugely expensive shambles yesterday after the actor Joanna Lumley extracted fresh concessions in an extraordinary live television confrontation with the home office minister Phil Woolas.

The actor, who has been a powerful champion for the Gurkhas as they have fought through the courts and parliament, exploited Home Office heavy-handedness to demand assurances from a sheepish Woolas after five former Gurkhas received letters from the home office apparently telling them they did not qualify to settle in Britain.

The letters arrived only a day after Gordon Brown at prime minister's questions and in a private meeting with Lumley had promised their cases would be reviewed, and insisted he was taking personal charge of the issue.

Hurrah for Ms. Lumley, and jeers for the Gordon Brown government. Full article here.