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David Burrowes in parliamentary plea to stop extradition of Gary McKinnon During the course of the Second Reading of the Policing and Crime Bill on Monday 19 January, David Burrowes spoke out twice in criticism of the current extradition laws and their relation to the Gary McKinnon case. Mr McKinnon's appeal attempting to overturn the Government's decision on his extradition is currently in court. David intervened during a speech given by Chris Huhne MP saying that proposed amendments to the Extradition Act 2003 do not go far enough: "Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, although the proposals in part 5 seek to improve the situation in some ways, they will not provide a remedy for my constituent, Gary Mackinnon, who will go to court tomorrow to seek to challenge the Government's decision? He is a victim of that imbalance and faces extradition, even after a recent diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome." David intervened further during a speech by Henry Bellingham criticising the lack of proper reciprocity in the current UK-US extradition arrangements: "On reciprocity, may I draw my hon. Friend's attention again to the case of my constituent Gary McKinnon, who is subject to extradition on the basis that he hacked into American computers? In court tomorrow, he will challenge the Home Secretary's decision to extradite him. Does my hon. Friend not agree that Gary McKinnon is a prime example, and perhaps a better example than the NatWest three, of a victim of laws that do not demand proper reciprocity? He has admitted guilt and is asking to be prosecuted by the courts in this country." David was referring to the unfair law whereby the extradition of British citizens to the US does not require prima facie evidence, whereas in contrary cases such evidence is required. He has spoken out a number of times against this lack of reciprocity and has been an active supporter of Gary McKinnon's fight against unfair extradition. |