The Home Office has this morning confirmed Priti has ordered Julian Assange’s extradition to the US to face espionage charges. A Home Office spokesperson said:

“Under the Extradition Act 2003, the Secretary of State must sign an extradition order if there are no grounds to prohibit the order being made. Extradition requests are only sent to the Home Secretary once a judge decides it can proceed after considering various aspects of the case. On 17 June, following consideration by both the Magistrates Court and High Court, the extradition of Mr Julian Assange to the US was ordered. Mr Assange retains the normal 14-day right to appeal. In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr Assange. Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.”

Expect this to go to appeal…

Listen as David Davis MP outlines the issues with the US-UK Extradition Treaty that threaten UK sovereignty, and could condemn Julian Assange to a 175 year sentence in a US prison.

It’s not too late to tell Boris and Priti not to sign the extradition order. Don’t Extradite Assange.

This content created and presented by the Don’t Extradite Assange Campaign.

Guido had some dealings with Julian Assange many years back. He’s difficult, prickly and perhaps not the most balanced individual. It would be fair to say he has some pretty bad character flaws. All that aside he has brought into the public domain a lot that governments did not want disclosed. Some of it recklessly endangered the lives of good people – and that should rest on his conscience. Wikileaks also revealed truths that needed to be told.

Assange’s Wikileaks exposed truths that needed to be exposed in the public interest, for that the Pentagon and the US intelligence establishment is unforgiving. Even if you believe, as Guido does, that the US is generally a force for good in the world, it does not mean that it is in the public interest that all their secrets should stay secret. After exhausting all legal avenues, Assange’s case is now before the Home Secretary and Priti Patel has to make one of the most difficult decisions of her career; accede to heavy pressure from the United States and send him to die in a US jail, or stand up for freedom of the press and free speech, even when it makes allies uncomfortable. Priti should choose to support freedom of the press and not extradite Assange. Even if he is an arsehole.

Judge orders Assange’s discharge, blocks extradition on the grounds that his mental state makes it likely he would commit suicide if extradited. US government likely to appeal decision…

Guido’s view, for the record, is that whilst Assange is a monumental pain in the arse and an unpleasant person in many ways, it is a dangerous and slippery path to jail him for journalism. Mainstream newspapers published his stuff without facing consequences. Why should he feel the might of the US government’s anger at him, for embarrassing them by publishing the truth?

Not certain he’ll be released from custody. Though in full lockdown it won’t be much of a change for him if he is released.