The Tories will force a vote in Parliament tomorrow over the fate of computer hacker Gary McKinnon. With Liberal Democrats and Labour backbenchers also opposing the Asperger's sufferer being forcibly removal to the U.S. for trial, the Government could suffer an embarrassing Commons defeat.
Today Gary launches what may be his final chance to prevent his extradition to the U.S. on charges of hacking into Nasa and Pentagon computers, which he did while looking for evidence of aliens. His lawyers are challenging what they call a 'flawed' decision not to prosecute the 43-year-old in the UK - where he would face a five-year sentence in a British jail rather than up to 60 years in an American Supermax prison.
The Tories are devoting an opposition day debate at Westminster tomorrow to discuss Gary's extradition fight, which the Mail has backed in a campaign. David Cameron called on the Government to show 'compassion' for Gary, by letting him be tried in the UK courts. The Tory leader said: 'I am deeply saddened and worried about the case of Gary McKinnon. I am saddened because he is clearly a vulnerable young man with a recognised medical condition.
'I simply see no compassion in sending him away to serve a lengthy prison sentence, thousands of miles away from his home, his family and his friends. 'But I am worried too. The Extradition Act was put in place to ensure terrorists didn't escape justice. It was never intended to deal with a case like Gary's.' (Daily Mail)
