Campaigners hail the ‘victory for compassion’
‘Today is a victory for compassion, and pre-election promises being kept.’
DAVID BURROWES, MR MCKINNON’S MP ‘Extradition should prevent fugitives escaping – not allow for Britons like Gary to be parcelled off around the world based on allegations of offences committed here at home. ‘This campaign, led by Gary’s fearless mother, united lawyers, politicians, press and public from across the spectrum in the cause of compassion and common sense.’ SHAMI CHAKRABARTI, DIRECTOR OF LIBERTY ‘A decade is a long time to wait, and those years can never be recovered but Mrs May’s decision has finally put an end to a difficult chapter.’ MARK LEVER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE , THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY ‘I am delighted that after all the years of wrangling and uncertainty – which, in themselves, have taken a terrible toll on Gary’s already poor health – the Home Secretary has shown the humanity and courage to reach this decision.’ TRUDIE STYLER,
STING’S WIFE ‘To extradite a man diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome to America for trial would have been extraordinarily cruel and inhumane. I applaud the Government’s stance. If they had approved extradition, they’d have been saying that extradition on any grounds was OK. It’s not.’ BORIS JOHNSON, LONDON MAYOR ‘This is a great day for British justice, it came through in the end.’
KAREN TODNER, MR MCKINNON’S LAWYER ‘We are relieved and delighted for Gary and his family and his lawyers. A brave and correct decision has finally been made by the Home Secretary.’
MELANIE RILEY, CAMPAIGN GROUP, FRIENDS
EXTRADITED ‘I’m delighted by the Home Secretary’s decision. This is the end of a very long campaign which has involved a lot of people, but most importantly Gary and his mother Janis Sharp. We should all pay tribute to her determination, speaking up for her son over a very long period of time.’
NICK CLEGG, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER