I AM sure that I do not stand alone when I question this Government and its stance when we see Gurkhas handing back their valiantly-earned military medals during their Parliament Square protest over pensions and the right to remain here for those who retired before 1997 (Echo, Mar 20).

These admirable fighters have stood shoulder to shoulder with our British-born troops, including Prince Harry, in Afghanistan.

We allow lesser men and women who will never make any contribution to our country or society, who are hardened criminals, rapists or illegal immigrants, to remain in this country, often at great cost to us as taxpayers because of their "human rights". Do the Gurkhas have any lesser human rights?

Improving their Army pensions was a start. Now let us, as an honourable nation, take a more sympathetic approach to these men whose history of service to Britain stretches back nearly 200 years.

John Waiting, Guisborough, East Cleveland.