A French taxi driver has been formally charged with theft after allegedly stealing luggage and cash belonging to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his wife, Nicola Green, during a cross-border journey from Italy to France.
The incident, which occurred last month, involved a lengthy taxi ride spanning over 600 kilometers from Forli, Italy, to the French Alpine resort of Flaine in Haute-Savoie. The couple had reportedly pre-paid €1,550 (£1,315) through a booking service for the trip.
Dispute arose when the driver allegedly demanded €700 (£590) in cash upon arrival, claiming he was owed additional payment. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) strongly denied the claim, stating that the full fare had already been covered. Whitehall sources confirmed that no sensitive material was among the couple’s missing belongings.
According to French authorities, the situation escalated into a criminal matter when the driver departed with the Lammy couple’s luggage, prompting an investigation. Bonneville prosecutor Boris Duffau confirmed that the driver has now been charged with theft of both cash and personal items. He is expected to appear in court on November 3, 2025.
“The foreign secretary and his wife are named as victims in this matter,” the FCDO said in a statement. “The fare was paid in full. The driver has been charged with theft.”
Nicola Green provided a statement to French police claiming she felt threatened during the incident and alleged that the driver showed her a knife stored in the glove compartment of the vehicle. David Lammy was inside the residence at the time.
After the driver left the scene, a member of Lammy’s office reportedly contacted him to retrieve the stolen belongings. While the luggage was eventually returned to a local police station, a significant sum of money was reported missing from Green’s bag.
The driver, who has also filed a complaint and claimed Lammy became “aggressive” during the disagreement, maintains that he was still owed a portion of the fare.
With legal proceedings underway, UK officials have declined to comment further.
