Update: Gurkhas rout Labour government

A report from The Daily Mirror on the British government's defeat over rules restricting retired Gurkha soldiers from living in Britain:

The Government suffered an embarrassing defeat today when MPs voted to give all Gurkha soldiers equal right of residence in Britain.

The Liberal Democrat motion to scrap new settlement rules for Gurkha veterans was supported by 267 to 246 MPs, a majority of 21.

Actress and pro-Gurkha rights campaigner Joanna Lumley, who was watching from the Commons public gallery as this afternoon's result was announced, said she was "elated" by the outcome.

"Just before this vote was taken our spirits were nearly at zero," she said.

"When it came through we saw it on the screen and I can't tell you the sense of elation, the sense of pride - pride in our country, pride in the democratic system and pride in our Parliament."

It was the first major reverse for Gordon Brown since he became Prime Minister but has no legally binding effect on Government policy.

Hurrah for the Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs who voted this government measure down. It's not a confidence motion, so the government survives the defeat in the house, but I certainly hope the prime minister changes course on this issue.