US government security chimps are just as bad as UK legal chimps

When I was a law student, I remember reading cases about the Human Rights Act 1998 about drug dealers, terrorists, criminals and general undesirables who managed to manoeuvre behind New Labour’s delivered promise to ‘Bring rights home’. Most of these cases were about foreign nationals or immigrants seeking to block extradition for crimes in their countries of origin.

Extradition in these cases was always blocked because there was a possibility however slight that they may have had it worse if returned to their countries of origin than they would in the UK. Torture was always a favourite and still remains so even if we have treaties in place with countries not to torture returned prisoners. Illness is always another good excuse to remain in the UK. If the treatment a person is likely to receive in their country of origin is wore than the treatment they are likely to receive here then again we will keep them. Capital punishment is another bar on extradition.

The common thread however it seems is that if you are not born in this country and you are a criminal then you can remain in this country especially if you are ill if you are shrewd enough to invoke the Human Rights Act 1998.

What seems to be a bit unfair is that our own home grown nationals are not afforded the same luxury.

Gary McKinnon who suffers from Asperger’s disease, a clinically recognised psychological disorder, has been accused of hacking into US military Networks including the Pentagon. The US government is adamant that it wants to prosecute him for it.

I find it incredible that we are allowing this travesty to continue.

Firstly this is a man who is in obvious need of protection. He is not a murderer. He is not a terrorist. He is not a drug dealer or any other type of criminal really. His only crime is that he is brighter than the United States of America and all of its technology and cash!!!

If the US think it necessary to extradite this fellow and make him stand trial despite his psychological condition then we should have the courage to say no.

The fact is that the US is embarrassed. Like they were when 9/11 happened. They are too arrogant to consider the possibility that anyone could be able to infiltrate their security. They cannot prosecute the majority of the thousands of people who violate its borders every year. They have been unable to find anyone to blame for 9/11.

In this instance, one man with a psychological illness and a PC in his bedroom has infiltrated their military IT systems and because they are able to trace him, they want to throw the book at him. Not only that but they have undoubtedly applied political pressure at the highest level or the fact that this man is even being considered for extradition in these circumstances should not even be in question.

Time to stick up for our own. Time to stick up for the innocent. Time to tell the US to bugger off and question the chaps who are costing them millions of dollars every year to protect their national security before they start picking on those who exposed their weakness.

Liberty condemns High Court extradition decision

Human rights group Liberty today condemned the High Court decision that Gary McKinnon’s extradition must go ahead. Gary McKinnon, who has Asperger’s syndrome, has been charged with hacking into the US Pentagon and NASA systems between 1999 and 2002, an offence which was committed from his computer at home in London.

Liberty argues that where conduct constituting a crime occurs in the UK then a British court should be allowed to refuse extradition if it is in the interests of justice to do so. Liberty also holds that the requesting country should have to make out the case for extradition in a British court before the request is granted.

Isabella Sankey, Director of Policy for Liberty, said:

“Today’s court decision demonstrates the disgrace that is Britain’s extradition arrangements that allow vulnerable people to be shipped off around the world when they should be tried here at home. Our judges’ hands have been tied by rotten legislation that should now be overhauled by Parliament without delay.”

Grayling says McKinnon extradition is "very disappointing"

Chris Grayling has described the news that Gary McKinnon has lost his appeal against extradition as “very disappointing”.

American authorities want to try the British citizen, who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, for hacking into US military and Nasa computers in 2001/02.

Chris, the Shadow Home Secretary said, “People are right to be extremely concerned about our extradition arrangements.”

“This is a case where there is a clear argument for it to be tried in this country, and our system should take health issues into account before considering deportation. I hope lessons will be learned.”

David Cameron said he was "deeply saddened and disappointed" by the decision:

"Gary McKinnon is a vulnerable young man and I see no compassion in sending him thousands of miles away from his home and loved ones to face trial."

"If he has questions to answer, there is a clear argument to be made that he should answer them in a British court. This case raises serious questions about the workings of the Extradition Act, which should be reviewed.”

ID card flag ban is 'ridiculous'

The Government's decision to remove the Union Jack flag from the proposed identity cards has been branded as ludicrous by UKIP Leader Nigel Farage.

"We are utterly opposed to the whole idea of identity cards and Big Brother government anyway but this latest twist is utterly nonsensical," Mr Farage said.

"It's typical of the knee-jerk political correctness that governs thought in the Labour government. The loud minority have every wish granted while the silent majority suffer the consequences.

"Why remove the flag when it was already on drafts of the identity cards. If the Government insists we have them, then at least it should be easily identifiable to border control where the holder is from.

"The Government says it's axed the flag to avoid upsetting groups who may not identify with the UK symbol. This is simply ridiculous. Surely if someone is actually asking for a national identity card showing they are a British citizen, then surely they identify to some degree with the Union Jack?

"This move comes from the same thinking that bans the St George flag on public buildings, prohibition of Christmas nativity scenes and other barmy rules that undermine our culture and our sense of nationhood."

UK will have largest budget deficit of any G20 country

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that the UK will have the largest budget deficit of all G20 countries in 2010.

After revising its estimates for the scale of government debt, the IMF now predicts that next year the UK will have a budget deficit of 13.3% of GDP, compared to 9.7% for the US.

George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said, "It’s now official - the debt crisis is worse in Britain than any other major economy.”

And he warned, “We now face a 100 per cent national debt and the humiliation of the first ever downgrade in Britain's credit rating, with all the higher debt costs that entails. Gordon Brown's denial of the truth about the debt crisis and the need to cut spending whoever wins the election is doing serious economic damage to Britain's recovery.”

PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE THREATENED WHISKY JOBS

Kilmarnock & Loudoun MSP Willie Coffey has secured time for a debate on 2nd September about the job losses announced by Diageo at their plants at Kilmarnock, Hurlford and Port Dundas which will see the loss of 900 jobs.

Mr Coffey who represents the workers at the Kilmarnock and Hurlford said the debate would assist the campaign in trying to convince Diageo to rethink the planned job losses by showing the strength of cross party support for the campaign.

The Ayrshire MSP has already initiated an online petition against the Kilmarnock job losses which has burst through the 11,000 mark with many thousands more signing the hard copy version.

Mr Coffey, who launched the petition at an all party event with Kilmarnock Football Club, said:

"I am delighted to have secured this debate which will give Parliament a chance to hear the arguments against Diageo’s plans to make so many unemployed at this time.

“It will also be a great opportunity for Parliament to show how united the campaign is. Last Saturday’s march showed the width of political opposition to these plans and this debate will allow us to press home how unpopular their plans are.

“The response to Diageo's plans is also reflected in the response to the online petition I initiated which is already moving to the 12,000 mark.

"The message that Diageo seems to have forgotten is that customers across the world DO value Johnnie Walker's close connection with Kilmarnock.

“They may have lost sight of the value of this but an increasing number of customers across the world are giving Diageo the message - keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock."

Over 65,000 prisoners released early under Labour

New statistics have revealed that over 65,000 prisoners have been released early since Gordon Brown came to power.

The Government’s End of Custody Licence scheme, introduced in 2007, allows prisoners to be released before the end of their sentence in a bid to ease prison overcrowding.

Over 12,000 violent offenders, nine sex offenders, and two terrorists have been let out early – and 1,300 crimes, including sex offences, rape and three murders, have been committed by prisoners on early release.

Dominic Grieve, the Shadow Justice Secretary, stressed, “Releasing prisoners early puts the public at risk and has already led to the loss of three lives. In the next year the number of prisoners released early could rise to almost a hundred thousand.”

He promised that a Conservative Government would scrap “this disastrous policy”.

GREEN MEP DEMANDS ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY AS KURDISH CAMPAIGNER IS SENTENCED

Jean Lambert today expressed her concern and disappointment over the decision of the Turkish authorities to sentence Leyla Zana, a prominent Kurdish human rights activist, for fifteen months. Ms Zana, who has met with the Green MEP on several occasions, was the winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in 1995 for her work to improve human rights, and extend democracy and freedom of expression in Turkey.

Commenting on the announcement of Ms Zana's sentence, Jean Lambert MEP said:

"It is a sad outcome for human rights and for the Kurdish people. Leyla Zana is an inspirational figure and has tirelessly fought against intolerance and oppression. I have written to the President of the European Parliament this week to urge that everything possible is done at the EU level to support her appeal and I will continue to follow this situation closely."

Jean Lambert MEP continued:

"Leyla Zana has already served a 10 year prison sentence for speaking Kurdish in the Turkish Parliament, following her election as the first female Kurdish MP. Even now, the use of the Kurdish language is still banned in public places despite pressure from the EU to reform human rights law and comply with the Copenhagen criteria.

"I support Ms Zana's calls for the need for dialogue and a political solution to the conflict. I hope that she will win her new appeal against this sentence so that she can continue her work towards a peaceful solution for Turkey and a better situation for the Kurdish community."