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CARROLL REPORTED OVER GURKHA ELECTION CLAIM

Peter Carroll the Liberal Democrat candidate for Folkestone and Hythe in the May general election, has been reported to the chair of the Electoral Commission Sam Younger, for claiming that he had saved the Gurkhas. 

Evidence that Mr Carroll was not involved in any of the discussions has been received from the Adjutant General of Gurkha policy Jonathon Sanderson.

He said in correspondence to Maureen Tomison the Labour candidate standing in the Folkestone and Hythe constituency at the May general election, that no correspondence or Parliamentary Questions had been received from Mr Carroll by the Ministers, senior soldiers and civil servants dealing with the Gurkhas future.

Mr Sanderson, Adjutant General of Gurkha policy, wrote  to Ms Tomison saying that he did not understand what Mr Carroll meant in his claims that he had been “instrumentalâ€? in helping the Gurkhas as he had not been involved.

Maureen Tomison, Labour Parliamentary Candidate said: "We have to conclude that it was the proud record of the Gurkhas themselves which was entirely responsible for ensuring their own future

“This ensured that Gurkhas who have served in the British Army will, o­n retirement, now be able to work in the UK and apply for British citizenship

“I was very concerned when I heard that Gurkhas, or former Gurkhas, had been campaigning for Peter Carroll during the election.

“It is illegal for serving soldiers to campaign in elections and the involvement of groups of recently retired soldiers is considered to be totally inappropriate in electioneering. I do hope that the Gurkhas, who are highly respected and much liked here in Folkestone, will not get into trouble for this and that their future will not be threatened because they were persuaded that they had to repay a debt to Peter Carroll.

"It is quite untrue that Mr Carroll helped them, as Mr Sanderson makes clear, since the decisions were simply part of a gradual adoption of successive amendments to the conditions under which they serve and which “recognise their changing role, status, and personal aspirations.� This process, which involved the Governments of Nepal and India, was initiated by the British Government and announced in Parliament long before Mr Carroll started his so called campaign."