ONE jubilant Gurkha living in the region last night welcomed the Government’s decision to finally relent on settlement rights.

Ajitkumar Limbu, who has settled with his wife and two children in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, also paid tribute to the spirited campaign led by Joanna Lumley, who yesterday said the Gurkhas were coming home.

Lumley hailed the “brave”

decision by Prime Minister Gordon Brown after he opened the door to thousands of retired soldiers.

Campaigners reacted with jubilation after the announcement that all Gurkha veterans with four years’ service would be allowed to move to the UK.

Ms Lumley, whose late father was an officer in the Gurkha regiment, led the cry of “Ayo Gurkhali” – the Gurkhas are coming.

Choking back tears, she said: “A great injustice has been righted. The Gurkhas are coming home.

‘‘I would like to pay tribute to Gordon Brown the Prime Minister, a brave man who has made today a brave decision on behalf of the bravest of the brave.”

Mr Limbu served for 21 years until he retired in 2005 and was allowed to settle in the UK.

The Warrant Officer Second Class, who served in Iraq during the first Gulf War, said: “We are all absolutely delighted.

“There are other issues which must also be addressed, for example the problem of pensions, but today we rejoice that this justice was granted.

“Our thanks go out to Joanna Lumley, who has worked so hard for us and been a wonderful ambassador for our cause.”

Yesterday’s change of heart by the Government follows a two-year legal and political battle for equal rights for those who retired before 1997, when their base moved from Hong Kong to Kent.

Last month, campaigners reacted with anger at Home Office rules that they said would allow only 100 more Gurkhas, mostly officers and medal-recipients, to live in the UK, but excluded ordinary infantrymen.

Last month, the Government lost a key House of Commons vote to Labour backbenchers, the Tories and Lib Dems, and ministers were forced to launch a review.

Ms Lumley then cornered Immigration Minister Phil Woolas in a television studio to question him about letters sent to Gurkha soldiers appearing to suggest their appeals had been rejected.

Yesterday’s announcement was widely applauded. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, whose party led the Commons campaign, said: “Gordon Brown has finally woken up to the principle that people across Britain understand instinctively: if someone is prepared to die for this country, they must be allowed to live in it.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling said: “It is just a shame that the Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming through the courts and then through the crowds of Gurkhas outside Parliament before it finally did the right thing.”

Announcing the changes, Ms Smith praised the Gurkhas for their “great courage, sacrifice and distinction”.

The new rules will allow all Gurkhas who retired before 1997 with four years’ service to settle in the UK with their immediate families.

The Government expects that up to 15,000 Gurkhas will come to Britain over the next two years.

They will be allowed to bring their partners and children aged under 18.

However, they would not be given the same pension rights as those who retired after 1997.

About 1,400 residency applications still being considered by officials will be processed by June 11.

Gurkhas who retired after 1997 already have full settlement rights in Britain.