So, our Home Secretary (the one who's been trying recently that us Mancunians need id cards - personnally I start by trying to tackle car insurance in Manchester) has announced that he can't block Gary McKinnon's extradition because he would be, "breaking the law". See story here
Mr Johnson, let me address this to you directly. A few months ago several of your coleagues were caught up in a minor scandal involving their fingers being in the till. When pushed on this the excuse a few of them tried was,
"It might not have been strictly withing the written rules, BUT it was in the spirit of the rules."
Your action in blocking this extradition may not be within the agreement with the USA, BUT considering the physical and mental state of the person in question, it would most certainly be in the spirit of justice to see him remain and be tried here.
Our computer misuse laws are not nearly as robust as those of the Americans, I agree but that would appear to be the good fortune of Mr McKinnon.
Considering your government is on its knees, you have in your power right now an opportunity to do the right thng by one of your own citizens in the eyes of the rest of the electorate. This may be the one key opportunity that you get before the next election to do something positive. Don't pass it up.
bacardiancoke
I understand that the Americans have promised to look after Mr McKinnon in relation to his needs, but to those (including politicians) who consider this acceptable, may I point out the following.
Nobody in the UK trusts a single politician to be honest with petty cash, in the same way that no one in the UK would want to be caught up in the US penal system, the general consensus is that you get dumped and forgotten and no amount of PR and spin will change that view in many brits (or US citizens for that matter)