The call for Lumley to be made a Dame came from Solicitor-Advocate David Enright, one of the key legal figures in the battle for justice for the Gurkhas.
As the actress choked back tears and said she would not be standing as an MP or even as Mayor of London, Enright shouted: "Then let´s make her a Dame - Dame Joanna."
Fellow campaigners have already said that the star should be made a Dame.
And Brown´s official spokesman broke with strict honors protocol on Thursday to drop a massive hint that a title is on the way. Asked whether she should receive a Damehood, he replied: "I don´t think we normally comment on any cases in relation to honors. But the PM´s a great admirer of her campaigning skills."
Lumley´s victory has probably come too late for her to be included in the Queen´s Birthday Honors this summer. But she would be a hugely popular addition to the New Year list.
A Tory source said David Cameron also backed the idea, calling her "an ideal candidate for the honor".
Dame is the female equivalent of address to Sir for a British knighthood. In the UK honors system, this can be the title of a woman who has been made a Dame Commander or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order, or Order of the British Empire.
Because there is no female equivalent of a Knight Bachelor, women deserving an honor of this rank are appointed Dames of the Order of the British Empire instead.
Lumley allowed to reside in Britain
Meanwhile, Lumley has been told by Gordon Brown that she now has the right to reside in the UK. The turnaround follows a ferocious battle by the Ghurkas who defended her right to live on the front pages of every newspaper after all she had done for the nation.
"This woman has dedicated her life to this country, and it was a disgrace the way that she was being allowed to enter her old age without any of the media attention she so richly deserves," said one former Ghurka soldier, who had vowed to die for Queen and Lumley in his fight for justice.
Joanna Lumley was close to tears: "What the Ghurkas have done for me today is magnificent. My career was flagging, and it looked like car insurance adverts were all that I had left. But look, thanks to these brave, brave men I am on the front page of every newspaper and will live for ever in the hearts of the nation." She paused, smiled wrily and said: "Princess Diana move over."
Fight for equal pensions to continue
Colchester campaigners have claimed victory in the battle for all ex-Gurkhas to be able to settle in Britain.
But they warned the fight for equal pensions will continue.
Rajendra Rai, general secretary of the Nepalese Welfare Society, Colchester, said: "This brings Gurkhas in line with other soldiers who are from Commonwealth countries, which is what we´ve been asking for.
"I am very happy, but it should have happened a long time ago."
Rai, a former 2 Para corporal who left the Army in 2003, is one of 6,000 Gurkhas to have settled in the UK. He said he doubted whether many would come to Britain from Nepal because of the pensions they receive.
Regardless of when they left the Army, service by Gurkhas before 1997 is rewarded with a pension paid at Nepali rates -- a sixth of the sum given to British soldiers. Rai, of Barnardiston Road, said the pension campaign would continue. He added: "I´m a proud man, and it´s very embarrassing that I´m not getting the same benefits as soldiers I served next to.
"This is a far more important issue for ex-Gurkhas already living in this country, and it would be a significant financial hurdle for people coming over from Nepal."
Rai also praised town MP Bob Russell for his help.
Russell, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkha Rights, tabled a private members bill and early day motion calling for equal treatment for Gurkhas. He said: "This is a great result for the Gurkhas and for Parliamentary democracy. "This government should be given credit, because they have done more for Gurkhas than anyone else - it´s just they´ve rather messed it up on the last lap."
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