David Chadwick is seeking a better deal for former Gurkha soldiers.

The Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP spoke in the House of Commons in support of an amendment to the Government’s Armed Forces Commissioner Bill which he believes will help win Gurkha veterans better treatment.

He said he is proud to represent a constituency with a deep and enduring military history.

Mr Chadwick said: “It is home to Brecon Barracks, the headquarters of the British Army in Wales, and 160th (Welsh) Brigade, alongside the Sennybridge training area, where thousands of British service members train in the Brecon Beacons.

“My constituency is also home to a vibrant Nepalese community made up of former Gurkha soldiers and their families - an integral part of our community’s fabric.

“Gurkhas, renowned across the world for their bravery, professionalism and humility, have called the Brecon area home for over 50 years.

“They settled here during their distinguished service in the British Army and have since become an invaluable pillar of our local society.

“In fact, Brecon is now proudly twinned with Dhampus in Nepal, symbolising the bond between our two nations.”

But Mr Chadwick said the past treatment of Gurkhas in the UK had compelled him to support an amendment to the Government’s Bill.

He told MPs: “Despite their service to the United Kingdom, the Gurkhas have faced significant discrimination for many decades.

“Many will remember the Gurkha justice campaign, which gained momentum thanks to the tireless efforts of Dame Joanna Lumley and the support of the Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg.

“Through that campaign, a crucial parliamentary vote was won to grant all Gurkha veterans the right to reside in the UK, despite opposition from the Labour Government of the time.

“However, it was not only residency rights on which the Gurkhas faced discrimination.

“They faced inadequate support after leaving active service, receiving less pay than their British counterparts for the same jobs, and many were deprived of fair pensions.

“Even today, veterans who served before 1997 continue to struggle for equal recognition and treatment.”

Mr Chadwick said it was his “firm belief” that the amendment he was supporting, especially a call for the Armed Forces Commissioner to produce annual reports on the challenges faced by specific groups and to establish mechanisms for community engagement, will help ensure that no group ever again has to suffer injustice in the way that the Gurkhas did.

He urged all MPs to join him in supporting this “vital amendment”.

Gurkha soldiers have been based in Brecon since 1974.

Six years after they came to the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, a Company with a total strength of 85 formed up, to be known as a Gurkha Demonstration Company.

Gurkhas play an important role in Brecon’s community. In recognition of their service to the community, Brecon Town Council awarded Honorary Citizenship to the Gurkha Demonstration Company.

In 2019, the town twinned with the village of Dhampus, which is located in the Kaski District of Nepal.