Cross Party delegation of senior MPs to meet Home Secretary Alan Johnson to urge him not to extradite Gary McKinnon

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Michael Meacher MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

8 September 2009

PRESS RELEASE

CROSS-PARTY DELEGATION OF SENIOR MPs TO URGE HOME SECRETARY NOT TO EXTRADITE GARY McKINNON

A delegation of senior MPs is to meet with the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, tomorrow to ask him to prevent the extradition of Gary McKinnon who has Aspergers Syndrome and faces extradition to the US to face charges of hacking into US military computer systems.

Michael Meacher, who sought the meeting, together with David Davis and Chris Huhne, are due to meet the Home Secretary at noon on Wednesday 9th September.

Alan Johnson has previously said that there was nothing legally he could now do to prevent the extradition. However, based on leading counsel's opinion, Michael Meacher said:

"Not only has the Home Secretary got the power but he has the duty to intervene in an extradition case even after the court process has ended if there is a real risk of a human rights breach should extradition proceed. Gary's medical condition is such that medical experts have concluded there is a grave risk to Mr McKinnon's health if he is extradited to the US. There is no reason why he cannot face charges in the UK for an act which took place in the UK."

ENDS

For further information, contact Jon Lansman on 01992 589004 or 07710 541410

UPDATE:

3_senior_MPs_and_Janis_450.jpg

From left to right:

Chris Huhne, MP (Eastleigh), current Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary

Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP (Oldham West & Royton) former Labour Environment Minister.

Janis Sharp, the mother of Gary McKinnon.

Rt. Hon. David Davis MP (Haltemprice & Howden), former Conservative Shadow Home Secretary.

It is too early to tell what effect today's meeting of these three senior Members of Parliament and Privy Counsellors had on the current Labour Home Secretary Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson MP (Kingston upon Hull West & Hessle),but Janis Sharp's meeting with the three MPs seemed to go well.