Lumley hits back at smear campaign over Gurkhas' rights

JOANNA Lumley has hit out at what she claimed was a government smear campaign that saw her accused of "deathly silence" over Gurkhas' rights.

Earlier this month, defence minister Kevan Jones expressed "irritation" with the actress amid claims that Nepalese veterans had been misled and exploited. "Her deathly silence, frankly, irritates me," he said.

But, in a letter circulated yesterday, Lumley denounced the allegations. Signed by the actress, campaigner Peter Carroll and legal advisers Howe & Co Solicitors, it reads: "We feel that these comments are part of a set of actions that constitutes a broader attempt to taint the widely-welcomed positive outcome of the Gurkha Campaign."

Last year, after a lengthy battle spearheaded by Lumley, MPs agreed to throw out rules that prevented retired Gurkhas from settling in the UK. But recently questions have been raised concerning the advice given to those wishing to make the move.

Giving evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Committee, Jones claimed some of the advice being given to veterans was misleading.