Back to news
David Lammy denies claim he dodged £590 taxi fare on trip to French ski resort with wife
@Source: standard.co.uk
David Lammy has denied claims he refused to pay an almost £600 taxi fare when he was dropped off at a French ski resort.
French prosecutors are investigating allegations that the Foreign Secretary refused to pay when he and his artist wife, Nicola Green, were dropped off at the Flaine ski resort in the Haute Savoie and that their driver sped off with their luggage.
The couple has vehemently deny any wrongdoing, insisting that the “fare was paid in full” and have accused the driver of theft.
When the couple’s luggage was returned money was allegedly missing from Ms Green’s bags.
France's La Provence newspaper reported that Mr Lammy and his wife were picked up by the Italian driver in Forli, near Bologna, on April 10.
The couple had just spent three days in Italy on a state visit with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The bill for the 360-mile, six hour trip was said to be £1,305 with some £717 covered by the transfer service used to book the car. The driver claims a further £588 bill was left to be paid by the couple.
Sources said Mr Lammy has receipts to disprove this claim and the driver has been sacked by the transfer company.
The anonymous driver told La Provence: “On the night of April 10-11, I was the victim of assault and violence by members of a British embassy during an international transfer, where they refused to pay.
"GetTransfer, who used my services, was supposed to pay me the difference, €850.
“They stopped the payment.”
The driver claimed that Mr Lammy “took the receipt from my hand” when he told his passengers they had to pay €700 (£588) out of a €1,550 (£1,305) total fare.
When Mr Lammy and his wife allegedly refused to pay, the driver said he left them at their destination and made a complaint to local police, which led to the local prosecutor's office opening an investigation.
Bonneville prosecutor Boris Duffau confirmed the legal complaint against Mr Lammy and his wife, and that the couple had accused the driver of theft.
Mr Duffau said: “The stories between the two parties are not the same. Of course, the passengers are not saying the same thing as the driver when he filed a complaint.
“The passengers have assured that the driver had already been paid. The driver said the opposite.”
The unnamed driver is due to appear in court on November 3 over charges of “fraudulently removing luggage and cash” after he drove off with Mr Lammy's belongings.
In addition to filing a complaint with local authorities, the driver also complained to the British Embassy in Paris.
A Foreign Office spokesman told the Standard: “We totally refute these allegations. The fare was paid in full.
“The Foreign Secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter and the driver has been charged with theft.
“As there is an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Related News
23 Apr, 2025
4 Prospects Cleveland Browns Should Avoi . . .
19 Mar, 2025
James Lowe and Jamie Osborne sign new co . . .
03 Mar, 2025
EXPERIENCED GOLF BALLS
09 May, 2025
Barry Keoghan Briefly Dropped the Beatle . . .
06 Apr, 2025
Mahmoud Khalil compares Columbia’s admin . . .
22 Apr, 2025
Celebrity Traitors full line-up revealed . . .
24 Feb, 2025
Anushka Sharma showers love on Virat Koh . . .
01 May, 2025
May Day: CAPPA urges FG, states to prior . . .