The Defence Secretary has been told to “look out of his window” at the Gurkhas, whose hunger strike over pensions inequality has left them so weak they cannot speak or stand.

       A group of veterans are on their fifth day of protesting outside Downing Street over the Government’s failure to provide them with a full Armed Forces pension, with the men vowing to eat nothing until their demands are heard.

       Dhan Gurung, one of the members of the group, said they were seeking “equal rights” with their British counterparts and have said they are willing to continue striking until they die.

       He told Sky News: “The three of us are getting weaker day by day and today [we are] weaker than yesterday….we are all having emotional disorders and it's stressful. Last night [we were targeted by police] who were disturbing us and trying to wake us and they said we cannot do this and cannot do that."

       He added: "After that, my wife and one of the ladies on strike became emotionally, mentally distressed and they cannot speak, they cannot talk, they cannot stand, and they're losing that memory brainpower.”

       Labour has called on the Government to work on a cross-party solution to find a solution and stop the protest before the men become too ill.

       Stephen Morgan, shadow armed forces minister, told the BBC: “It cannot be right that the Government is treating Gurkha veterans in such a way that they are resorting to going on hunger strikes.

       “Parliamentarians need to step up and take action,” he added. “Ben Wallace needs to look out of his window, walk the 10 metres to where this protest is taking place and take action.”

       Mr Morgan has written to the Defence Secretary, saying it is “outrageous” that people are “sleeping out there and not eating”.

       An MoD spokesperson said: "We greatly value the huge contribution Gurkhas make to the British Army and ensure they are supported with a generous pension and medical care during retirement in Nepal.

       "We are committed to ensuring the Gurkha Pension Scheme is sustainable and fair alongside other UK public sector pensions."

       What are the Gurkhas protesting over?

       The veterans have launched a hunger strike over the Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS), which is available for those who served from 1948 to 2007.

       This was closed in 2007 and all serving Gurkhas or those who retired after 1 July 1997 - when the force was no longer classified as being based in the Far East - were given the option of transferring to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).

       Under the GPS, Gurkhas qualify for an immediate pension after 15 years of service, while for armed forces as a whole it is 22 years.

       The GPS was designed for those retiring in Nepal, where the cost of living is much lower, but many Gurkhas have taken up the right to settle in the UK, following the change of policy under the Labour government in 2009.