David Lammy accused of refusing to pay £590 taxi fare
David Lammy has been accused of refusing to pay a £590 fare for a journey from Italy to France.
The Foreign Secretary denies the incident, said to have occurred after he travelled for six hours and more than 360 miles, from Forli near Bologna to Flaine, a ski village in Haute Savoie in the French Alps.
He and his wife, Nicola Green, had been accompanying King Charles and Queen Camilla on a three-day state visit to Italy in April.
Upon arrival, Mr Lammy, 52, and Ms Green are alleged to have refused to pay the fare and became 'aggressive' according to claims by the taxi driver, who has not been named.
Foreign Office sources said that the taxi ride was a personal trip, paid by Mr Lammy himself rather than by the taxpayer.
Sources claimed that Mr Lammy was asked to pay more. He insisted the full amount had already been paid up front. Then, it is alleged, the taxi driver drove off with their bags.
The driver is then said to have driven to a local police station to report the incident, where officers found Mr Lammy's ministerial briefcase and diplomatic passport, MailOnline reported.
The chauffeur filed a formal complaint, according to reports, leading the Bonneville prosecutor's office in Haute Savoie to open an investigation.
An FCDO spokesman said: '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.'
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