Chris Tappin recently failed in his final attempt to avoid extradition to the US at the European Court of Human Rights.
The retired British businessman from Kent is accused of conspiring to sell components for Iranian missiles, but maintains that he did not know the batteries shipped through his freight company were destined for Iran.
Talking to Total Politics, Jo Johnson described the case as "a constitutional issue with national twist".
He suggested that his constituent would be under "incredible pressure" to agree to a plea bargain to "avoid lengthy incarceration" before a trial.
Johnson added that Tappin could be seen as an example of "British middle-class respectability" who was to be "catapulted robotically to the US".
Tappin is expected to testify before the home affairs select committee about the US-UK extradition treaty, and the evidence session may actually delay his enforced departure from the UK.
Tappin is not alone in fighting extradition to the US. Other cases including 23-year-old student Richard O'Dwyer, who is accused of breaking US copyright laws, and computer hacker Gary McKinnon.
Sir Scott Baker's independent review of the UK's extradition arrangements last year concluded that the current treaty between the US and the UK was both balanced and fair.
But critics believe this is the latest case to test the review's findings.
Johnson will raise the case at PMQs later today.
Comments
gemma rogers / February 22 2012 12:19pm
That poor poor man, i can't stop thinking about him.
joanna walker / February 25 2012 11:04am
You don't mention that we are the only nation in the world who allows our citizens to be extradited to the US without a proper trial in their own country first.
Could you explain to an ordinary voter what is the precise nature of the 'special relationship' the British Government has with the Washington Government?
If it wasn't self defeating I'd cut up my passport. It is a disgrace to show so little self respect and backbone.
Barry Horne / February 27 2012 8:52pm
One of my favourite quotes from the TV series, "Spooks."
CIA AGENT TO MI5 AGENT: "Special relationship - of course we have. We tell you what to do and you do it."
A Smith / February 29 2012 7:21pm
Sir Scott Baker may be legally correct to say that the extradiction agreement was balanced and fair. But how many of us would want family and friends to be extradited to the USA without evidence. Furthermore few UK citizens have confidence in the legal systems of foreign governments - US & others. To keep a man incarcerated so that he will opt for plea bargaining is immoral and for most people borders on torture.
Conservatives and Lib-Dems in opposition promised to sort out the injustices in the extradition treaties - after 18 months we are still waiting.
Yours A Smith
Victoria Quary / March 06 2012 8:28am
This whole episode has made me ashamed to be British. I believed that we had the finest justice system in the world, that's what we were taught at School in the 60's,how could I have been such a fool.
The Americans say jump and our own Govornment say yes sirs, how high?
Our own citizens rights to a fair hearing before being judged guilty is swept aside and they are handed over to the Americans without any hearing of thier side of the accusations AT ALL.
I an DISGUSTED at our cringeing, whining and generally ineffective politicians. The Extradition treaty must be put aside and amended NOW.
denise tanner / March 06 2012 10:55pm
What is this country coming to. We bend over backwards to accommodate illegal immigrants, asylum seekers and terrorists. How must the Tappin family feel when only a few weeks ago an illegal immigrant, being kept on state benefits, was NOT extradited. I hope they know how much support they have for the ordinary people of this country even if their politicians have abandoned them.