Stephen Tall

Huhne slams “shameful” Johnson over McKinnon extradition: “stop being an American poodle and start being a British bulldog”

By | Fri 27th November 2009 - 10:15 am

Lib Dem shadow home secretary Chris Huhne has slammed the decision of Labour’s Alan Johnson to refuse to block the extradition of Gary McKinnon – the self-confessed computer hacker with Asperger’s – to the US on medical grounds.

It is appalling that this Government places a higher value on a deeply unfair extradition agreement than it does on the welfare of a British citizen. Alan Johnson has shamefully turned down the opportunity to demonstrate his faith in British justice and save a vulnerable man from a lifetime in prison or worse.

“The Home Secretary must now step in and ensure that this sorry saga is ended once and for all by trying Gary McKinnon in this country. The Home Secretary should stop being an American poodle and start being a British bulldog.”

Just a month ago, it looked like Mr Johnson had had a change of heart. It’s now clear he has no heart to change.

You can read about how Nick Clegg, Simon Hughes and Alex Carlile have also been championing Mr McKinnon’s case on behalf of the Lib Dems here.

Read more by or more about , or .
This entry was posted in News.
Advert

2 Comments

  • Terry Gilbert 27th Nov '09 - 12:10pm

    Lets hope the European Court can step up to the plate to defend this misguided but probably harmless man with significant personal difficulties from a long stretch in a US jail. Together, Europe can be as powerful as the US, and a force for more humane and civilised values. Ruling this extradition treaty unlawful would be good a start.

  • Sesenco 29th Nov '09 - 2:25pm

    Alan Johnson has proved himself to have about as much backbone as a plate of blancmange. Not only is the man a contemptible, unprincipled wimp and a good-for-nothing liar, he simply doesn’t have the braincells to do the job. He should have stuck to delivering the post in Peckham. Wasn’t Johnson being touted as a replacement for Brown at one point? God help us!

    BTW, I see the government is planning to place a mandatory gag on people who give it scientific advice. All they will be allowed to speak in future is official propaganda, drafted by the Ministry of Truth.

    Come on, Professor Nutt, send Johnson a writ for Christmas.

One Trackback

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • Peter Martin
    Gerard, Sarah Olney may well be a "practising Roman Catholic " but do we know this was her sole reason for opposing the Assisted Dying Bill? There's usually...
  • Gerard
    Sarah Olney placed her own personal religious beliefs over the potential needs of her constituents today. I refer of course to the Assisted Dying Bill. Needless...
  • David Raw
    @ Jack I'm afraid you fail to accept it was a free vote on a non party issue and was a matter of personal conscience, Jack. No less than fifteen Liberal Democ...
  • David Raw
    @ Jack. It was a perfectly reasonable question, Jack, and I’m afraid you haven’t answered it....
  • George Thomas
    It follows the position of what I believe is a majority of UK population of supporting Israel but being against these unlawful settlements. Maybe not brave in t...