• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / News Archive / Brown asked US ambassador for McKinnon deal

Brown asked US ambassador for McKinnon deal

By guest on 1st December 2010 Category: News Archive

Listen

Leaked documents have revealed that Gordon Brown proposed a legal deal to a senior US diplomat that could have prevented a disabled computer hacker from being extradited to America.

The document published by the WikiLeaks website, suggests that Brown, when still prime minister last year, told the US ambassador to Britain, Louis Susman, of the “deep public concern” that Gary McKinnon would try to commit suicide if imprisoned in the US.

If extradited, McKinnon, who has Asperger’s syndrome, faces a trial for allegedly hacking into US defense department computer systems, and a possible prison sentence of 60 years if convicted.

Brown apparently suggested a deal in which McKinnon could plead guilty, make a “statement of contrition”, but serve any prison sentence in the UK.

Janis Sharp, McKinnon’s mother, told the Commons home affairs committee this week that she was “very surprised” and “very pleased” to hear that Brown had lobbied the US ambassador on her son’s behalf.

But she said she believed that America wanted to extradite and imprison her son “as an example”.

She added: “I don’t want to see Gary dying in a foreign prison. His mental health has deteriorated so much.

“Gary has been in this terror for many, many years. If he can be tried in the UK…he should be tried in the UK.”

And she said she hoped that MPs such as senior Conservatives David Cameron and Dominic Grieve and senior Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne would keep their pre-election promises to try her son in the UK.

She said: “I am sure that these people would not use a vulnerable man just in order to be re-elected because that would be horrendous, so I am sure that they will keep their word and they will have the strength to say to America: ‘No.’”

David Blunkett MP, who signed the extradition treaty with the US when he was a Labour home secretary, had suggested earlier to the committee that McKinnon should be allowed to give his evidence to a US court via video-link from the UK.

Home secretary Theresa May has been considering McKinnon’s case since May.

Last year, the Labour home secretary Alan Johnson decided the extradition could go ahead after considering new evidence relating to McKinnon’s mental health, which suggested he was highly likely to try to kill himself if extradited.

Until May intervened, the high court was set to consider whether Johnson should have halted the extradition in the light of the new evidence.

Cameron also discussed the case with the US president, Barack Obama, at the White House in July.

1 December 2010

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’
6th February 2015
UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education
6th February 2015
IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months
30th January 2015

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Silence from MP sister of Rachel Reeves over suicide linked to PIP flaws, just as government was seeking cuts

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

Disabled activists warn Labour MPs who vote for cuts: ‘The gloves will be off’

GB News says it has nothing to apologise for, after guest suggests starving disabled benefit claimants

SEND inspections find services in just one in four areas usually lead to ‘positive’ outcomes for disabled children

Disabled MP who quit government over benefit cuts tells DNS: ‘The consequences will be devastating’

Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web