I'm Samuel, a Commonwealth citizen serving in the British Army Reserve. I started this petition to ask the government to stop using the label 'Non-UK' for Commonwealth & Gurkhas personnel and Veterans.

Over 100,000 Gurkhas and Commonwealth citizens have served in the British Armed Forces, with 6,000 still serving and living in England and Wales with their families. The government has replaced the term 'Foreign & Commonwealth personnel' with the label 'Non-UK personnel' and 'Non-UK veterans', which diminishes our unique identity and sense of belonging. Serving in the British Armed Forces requires us to live a life with very little separation between life and work, where everybody relies on each other – prepared if necessary to lay down our lives for the man or woman next to us in the fight, as well as our families, unit and country.  

The label 'Non-UK' fails to acknowledge our sacrifices and contributions throughout history, erases the rich heritage and camaraderie shared among British, Commonwealth, and Allied forces, and reduces the importance of feeling like we belong to the country we serve and have sacrificed our lives for. This labelling affects individuals and their families, fostering a sense of isolation and detachment from our heritage and service.

We need people who have served alongside the Gurkhas and Commonwealth and understand the significance of our sacrifice to sign this petition to belong to the country we serve and better integrate communities. The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Prime Minister said in the June 2023 report from the Office For Veterans Affairs, 'My ambition here is very simple: I want to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran'. 

This labelling of 'Non-UK' is doing the opposite for Gurkhas & Commonwealth personnel and Veterans living in the UK. That is why we need your support today.

Thank you.