Portrait installation is timely at Town Hall

By Jon Massey on May 13, 2009 10:21 AM |

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By Tim Archer

Tim Archer125.jpg

This week I had the great privilege to attend a Tower Hamlets Citizenship ceremony at the Tower of London.

Some 32 individuals representing 17 nationalities took the oath to The Queen and the British way of life.

The pride of the new citizens was evident as every single one expressed their allegiance to the Queen.

It is timely therefore that the council has agreed with my call for a portrait of the Queen to be hung in the Town Hall.

Sadly though, the Labour-run council will not support my calls to offer English classes free of charge to residents who cannot speak our language.

Swearing allegiance to the Queen is one thing, but fighting for your country is another.

The Gurkhas have fought and died for this country in some of its toughest battles.

We owe them a huge debt and that is why I believe that we need to treat them properly in return; Gurkha veterans who want to live in this country should be able to do so.

The Government does not support this view but it was defeated in a vote in the House of Commons. Sadly the Labour MP for the Poplar and Canning Town voted with his Government against the Gurkhas.

In a constituency as diverse as ours, it's a disgrace that he felt unable to offer a home to those that have fought for our freedom.