In the Media

Gary McKinnon extradition: David Burrowes, MP who wears conscience on his sleeve

PUBLISHED October 15, 2012
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It will bring a curtain down on a two year career in Government when he has served three ministers as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Francis Maude and Oliver Letwin in the Cabinet Office, and latterly Owen Paterson, who was made Environment secretary in last month's reshuffle.

As Conservative MP for Enfield, Mr Burrowes has been a major focal point of the high profile campaign to stop computer hacker Gary McKinnon - who lives in his constituency - from being extradited to the United States.

Mr Burrowes, 43, has frequently spoken up on behalf of MrM cKinnon- despite the apparent displeasure of the Government when Labour were in charge and the Commons authorities.

In 2009 he tabled an early day motion in support of Mr McKinnon which was banned by the Commons because it was "sub judice".

He was able to combine his advocacy for Mr McKinnon with his role as a shadow junior justice minister from July 2007.

His voluble attacks on the "one sided" 2003 Extradition Act, which was seen as being unfair to Britons, came as Conservative policy hardened in favour of reform.

By the time of the 2010 general election, Prime Minister David Cameron was campaigning for a review of the treaty and had championed the case of Mr McKinnon. A keen Arsenal FC fan, Mr Burrowes is married with six children.

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