Taxi driver in France charged with stealing from David Lammy and his wife

A taxi operator has been charged by French constabulary with stealing luggage and currency from the UK’s overseas secretary, David Lammy, and his wife, Nicola Green.

The operator took the mates much than 600km (370 miles) from the municipality of Forli successful Italy to the French skis edifice of Flaine, Haute-Savoie, past month.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said Lammy and his spouse were victims successful the lawsuit and that the operator has been charged with theft aft driving disconnected with their luggage.

It besides denied that the Labour MP for Tottenham had refused to wage the driver.

Whitehall sources said nary delicate worldly was successful the pair’s vacation luggage.

Prosecutors opened an probe into a “commercial dispute” successful Bonneville aft the operator filed a complaint.

The Bonneville prosecutor, Boris Duffau, told the BBC the taxi operator was being charged with theft.

He said: “An probe has been opened pursuing a disagreement regarding the outgo of a taxi thrust betwixt Italy and France.

“After an probe by French police, the Bonneville prosecutor’s bureau has decided to prosecute the taxi operator who has been summoned to look astatine the Bonneville tribunal connected 3 November 2025.

“He has been charged with theft (of luggage and cash) to the detriment of Nicola Green and David Lindon Lammy.”

The operator had told French media that Lammy became “aggressive” erstwhile asked to wage €700 (£590) of the €1,550 bill, the remainder of which was to beryllium paid by the booking service.

The interest was paid upfront to the transportation work but the operator insisted helium was owed wealth connected accomplishment and that helium needed to beryllium paid successful cash, a root said.

Green, who was speaking to the taxi operator portion her hubby went into the house, told constabulary successful a connection that she felt threatened and that the operator showed her a weapon successful his mitt box, according to the PA quality agency.

It is understood that aft helium near with their luggage, a subordinate of the overseas secretary’s bureau contacted the operator to get it back, and it was deposited astatine a constabulary presumption with a “considerable” sum of wealth missing from Green’s bag.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We wholly refute these allegations. The fare was paid successful full.

“The overseas caput and his woman are named arsenic victims successful this substance and the operator has been charged with theft.

“As determination is an ongoing ineligible process, it would beryllium inappropriate to remark further.”