UK gets second ever Gurkha councilor

Tashi Bhutia, Britain´s first Tory Gurkha, has won a local council election.



The Nepali ex-serviceman, who will represent the Luton and Wayfield ward, received 1,042 votes, just four ahead of a rival Labour candidate in a turnout of 30 per cent.

He is the second ever Gurkha councilor after Liberal Democrat Dhan Gurung was elected in 2007 to serve his local community in Folkestone. [break]



Gurkhas are ´coming home´ after famous victory



Bhutia, from Chatham, Kent, said after his victory: "The result is a fantastic victory for the Conservatives in Chatham and Wayfield.



"It shows the sands of time are running out for the Labour party.



"I´m delighted at winning this stunning by-election victory.



"I would like to thank my campaign team for their tremendous hard work and support."







Voters claims that Bhutia´s popularity soared after the plight of the Gurkhas was highlighted by Joanna Lumley.



Residents said they wanted to vote for Tashi because of the Government´s "appalling" treatment of the Nepalese ex-servicemen who until May had to prove they had "close ties" to Britain before being granted full residency.



Terry Hendy, 30, said: "The Government deserves a bit of a kick in the teeth for how they treated the Gurkhas.



"Men like Tashi do this country proud – they have fought and died for queen and country so it´s no surprise so many people wanted him to represent them.



"He gets my vote that´s for sure."



Bhutia served in the Brigade of Gurkhas after joining the regiment in 1970.



He met his wife Kathy – who was a wren in the Royal Navy – while on active service with his battalion in Hong Kong.



The couple, who married in 1980, have three children – two daughters Tshering, 25, Sonam, 23, and son Ruden, 18.

 

Eric Pickles, the chairman of the Conservative party, said that he was "delighted" Bhutia, 54, had won but it was a "shame" the Government took so long to recognize the "honored" Nepali veterans.



"This is further proof of the invaluable contribution the Gurkha community makes to British society," he said.



"It´s a shame the government had to be dragged kicking and screaming before they woke up and realized the Gurkhas should be treated as honored veterans of our armed forces."

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