THE Government’s defeat in the House of Commons vote over the right of Gurkhas who have fought for Britain to settle here is wonderful news.

Conservative, Liberal Democrat and some rebel Labour MPs joined together to defeat the Government on this important vote. However, I was extremely disappointed to see that none of Teesside’s MPs voted in support of the Gurkhas.

To give these men and their families the right to live and work here as a sign of thanks for putting their lives on the line is the very least Britain should do.

Labour’s failed immigration and asylum system has certainly allowed far less deserving individuals into the country.

Now that Parliament and the country has spoken, I urge our MPs to not let the Government off the hook. They must put pressure on ministers to come up with revised proposals that will deliver justice for the Gurkhas.

Paul Bristow, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

I AM delighted that the Liberal Democrat motion demanding an automatic right of settlement in this country for all Gurkha veterans and their families was carried in the Commons.

It’s only fair that these people, who have been willing to die for this country, should be allowed to live here.

Unfortunately, this is not a view shared by Durham’s Labour MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, who, quite shamefully, voted against this motion, putting blind loyalty to Gordon Brown ahead of common decency.

Councillor Carol Woods, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Durham City.

OUR MPs like to be addressed as Honourable Members. Well, 267 showed they had some honour when they voted against the shameful Government proposals over the Gurkhas seeking to settle here. However, 246 showed they still have none by siding with the Government – and what happened to the other 133? Are they hedging their bets?

M Hawkins, Langley Park, Durham.