Snippets from Prater interview: Gurkhas' right to settle

In this final audio instalment of my interview with Folkestone West's newest county councillor, Tim Prater of the Liberal Democrats talks about his role in convincing the national government to grant all Gurkha troops the right to settle in the United Kingdom after they have finished at least four years of service in the British military. The prior policy only allowed Gurkhas who retired after 1997 with four-plus years service to settle.

Prater explaiins the importance of granting Gurkha troops the right to settle in the UK

The Royal Gurkha Rifles are headquartered in the Shorncliffe barracks in Folkestone, just outside Cheriton. In celebration of this ruling, Gurkha troops will march through Folkestone in a "Freedom of Town" parade Thursday. Among the spectators will be actress Joanna Lumley, one-time Bond girl and star of Absolutely Fabulous whose father served alongside Gurkhas in South Asia for 30 years. Lumley was one of the most prominent voices in the Gurkhas' efforts.