Boris Johnson Questions ‘Imbalanced’ Extradition Deal With U.S.
Boris Johnson Questions ‘Imbalanced’ Extradition Deal With U.S.
(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson criticized the U.K.’s “imbalanced” extradition treaty with the U.S. and said his government continues to demand the return of an American diplomat’s wife who fled the country following a fatal car crash.
The prime minister was asked about the case in Parliament on Wednesday by opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who called for Johnson’s administration to seek an “equal and balanced extradition relationship” with the U.K.’s closest ally.
“To be frank I think the honorable gentleman has a point in his characterization of our extradition arrangements with the United States,” Johnson replied. “There are elements of that relationship that are imbalanced and I certainly think that it is worth looking at.”
The comments are the latest indication of Johnson’s willingness to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump, even as he seeks a free-trade deal with the world’s largest economy following the U.K.’s split from the European Union.
Johnson gave the green light for Huawei Technologies Co. to be involved in Britain’s next-generation broadband networks last month in the face of strong U.S. pressure to ban the Chinese company. Plans to introduce a digital tax on U.S. technology companies have also angered the White House.
Bugbear
U.K. politicians have long complained about the extradition treaty with the U.S., which came into force under Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2007. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab sought to reform the treaty “to strengthen the protection of British citizens” when he was a rank-and-file backbencher in December 2011.
The matter was raised by Corbyn because the U.K. has failed to secure the extradition of Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. diplomat involved in a car crash that killed teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn. The Labour leader also cited media reports suggesting Sacoolas was a former spy and the U.K. government had withheld that fact from Dunn’s family.
“We have tirelessly sought the extradition of Anne Sacoolas for justice in this country and we will continue to do so,” Johnson said. “Anne Sacoolas was notified to the U.K. government as a spouse with no official role, and we will continue without fear or favor to seek justice for Harry Dunn.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs, Thomas Penny
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