Robin Lawrence backs Nick Clegg's stand on McKinnon extradition

2.12.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th Oct 2009

Robin Lawrence and Nick Clegg (photography: Bryan Lewis)

Robin Lawrence backs Nick Clegg's humanitarian call on McKinnon extradition

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has called on the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to "do the right thing" and block the extradition of computer hacker Gary McKinnon.Mr Clegg accused ministers of "hiding behind weasel-worded legal excuses" and demanded that they intervene in the case. Mr McKinnon has been denied leave to appeal to the new UK Supreme Court against his extradition to the US. He has admitted hacking into 97 US government computers, including those of Nasa and the Pentagon but he insists he was looking for evidence of UFOs. US authorities want to try him under anti-terrorism laws which carry a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison.

The Liberal Democrats have criticised the UK's extradition treaty with the US. It is unfair to British citizens because of the lack of reciprocity shown by the American authorities. Following the failure of Mr McKinnon's appeal Mr Clegg said this case demonstrated "precisely why the Lib Dems were so staunchly opposed to this treaty right from the beginning. This extradition is wrong. It must be stopped, and Gordon Brown and Alan Johnson can stop it by trying Gary McKinnon here under British law rather than shipping him off to a jail in America," said Nick Clegg.

Robin Lawrence backed Nick Clegg's humanitarian call saying "There is no excuse not to do the right thing and the Government should intervene and prevent this vulnerable man being sent over to America."

Mr McKinnon has Asperger's Syndrome and his lawyers say extradition could have "disastrous consequences" for his health.

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