Prime Minister apologises to Joanna Lumley over 'smears and lies'

• Joanna Lumley campaigning for Gurkhas. Picture: Getty

Veterans minister Kevan Jones also apologised "unreservedly" to the actress for his criticism of her "deathly silence" on Gurkhas' welfare since she forced a government climbdown last year over the Nepalese troops' right to settle in the UK in retirement.

In an impassioned press conference in Westminster, Ms Lumley made clear that she regarded Mr Jones's comments as a "smear". She called on Mr Brown to restate his support for the resettlement policy, which has seen about 6,000 Gurkhas apply to live in Britain.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister had a "positive" telephone conversation with Ms Lumley, in which he expressed regret over Mr Jones's comments. Mr Brown's spokesman said he read Ms Lumley the "unreserved apology" offered by Mr Jones.

Giving evidence to the House of Commons home affairs committee on 9 March, Mr Jones voiced concern that Gurkha veterans in Nepal were being given misleading information about the benefits and support they might receive if they came to the UK.

He claimed that the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO) had been taking payments of 500 from veterans and passing their cases on to London solicitors Howe & Co, which was part of the campaign to win settlement rights.

His comments followed press reports suggesting that some Gurkhas had been encouraged to apply for visas to come to the UK when they had no means of support here.

There was an onus on Ms Lumley to spread the message that veterans did not need to pay to access advice on their rights, he said, adding that her "deathly silence, frankly, irritates me".

Ms Lumley yesterday said she had never spoken to Mr Jones. She and other campaigners had been asked by the government to continue their work behind the scenes, rather than speaking out publicly. "It has been suggested that I somehow was parachuted in, took the headlines and ran. I feel that is a smear," she said.

"It has been suggested that I somehow spread falsehoods amongst the Gurkha communities both here and in Nepal about what they could expect. That is a lie and, therefore, a smear. The people who made those accusations must know them to be untrue."

Minutes before Ms Lumley spoke, Mr Jones said in a statement: "I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused to Joanna Lumley by my remarks to the home affairs committee – this was not intended."

Mr Jones said he had "the greatest of respect" for her work and accepted that neither she nor the campaign had sought to mislead Gurkhas about their prospects in the UK. "My sole concern… is to stop unscrupulous middlemen ripping off and misleading vulnerable ex-Gurkhas who are entitled to settle in the UK when our free service already exists to help them," he said.

Mr Brown's spokesman said the Prime Minister's discussion with Ms Lumley was "relatively brief" but "very warm".

Some 6,000 Gurkhas have applied for settlement rights in the UK, and 4,100 have had visas granted, of whom about 120 are understood to have experienced difficulties since arriving, he said. Bidur Pakhrin, vice-chairman of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, said it was "incredibly important" that Gurkhas get accurate advice. He added: "This has sadly not always been the case."