After her cool decision to reprieve Gary McKinnon this afternoon, you can expect Theresa May’s share price to soar through the roof.
For some at Westminster this is a Love, Actually moment — that scene where Hugh Grant tells the US President to get lost. The Home Secretary, a staunch upholder of the transatlantic relationship, would not see it in those terms but quite a few MPs are thrilled to see a Cabinet minister ignoring international pressure, whether from Washington or Brussels.
She certainly boosted the mood at the Home Office — a beleaguered department since Labour’s John Reid labelled it unfit for purpose a few years ago.
“I came in this morning ready for an awful day,” said an official. “Instead we have taken a popular decision.”
It is not popular in all quarters. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper says political expediency has triumphed and other cases will expect to be treated similarly, raising the possibility of more frightening criminals than the quirky Mr McKinnon being able to defy extradition.
Mrs May, in her lonely deliberations, knew that the United States government would not be pleased. But she protected herself by ordering reams of medical reports and studied them carefully over the summer. “We know the Americans will not be happy but they understand exactly where we are coming from,” said an ally.
An intriguing idea was running around the Tea Room this afternoon ... what if Mrs May were to stand for the Tory leadership? “If David Cameron was knocked over by a bus tomorrow, she would have a following and definitely stand,” says a minister. It’s early for such speculation but the idea of a May bandwagon is increasingly being taken seriously.
