Sir Ed Davey has called on Sir Keir Starmer to request the “urgent extradition” of Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan from America to face justice in the UK.
The self-described misogynist and his brother left Romania for the US last Thursday, where they were being investigated for crimes including human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They have denied all wrongdoing.
Speaking in PMQs, the Liberal Democrat leader pointed out that four British women had also accused Tate and his brother of rape and human trafficking and police in the UK had issued arrest warrants for them.
He asked: “Does the prime minister agree that people who are wanted by British Police of such appalling crimes should stand trial in our country?
“And given his assessment that President Trump really is a reliable ally, will his government request an urgent extradition of the Tate brothers?”
Mr Davey’s question to Mr Starmer received cheers in the House of Commons as the prime minister prepared to respond.
Sir Keir said: “This is a live issue as he’ll appreciate, therefore I’ll tread carefully. The principle is absolutely clear that justice must be done in all cases, including in this case. But I won’t go into the details because this is a live case, as he knows.”
The Tate brothers had been under a travel ban which prevented them from leaving Romania while they were under investigation there. But last week Romania’s anti-organised crime agency, DIICOT, confirmed prosecutors had approved a request to “modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania”.
The agency added: “These include the requirement to appear before judicial authorities whenever summoned.
“The defendants have been warned that deliberately violating these obligations may result in judicial control being replaced with a stricter deprivation of liberty measure.”
Romania’s ministers denied that Donald Trump’s administration had put any pressure on officials regarding the case against the brothers.
President Trump, who at the time was meeting with Sir Keir in the Oval Office, said of their arrival in Florida: “I know nothing about that. I don't know, you're saying he's on a plane right now? I just know nothing about it. We'll check it out. We'll let you know.”
But hours later Florida governor Ron DeSantis made it clear that they were not “welcome” in Florida with “that type of conduct”.
The brothers now face a criminal investigation in the US state, as Florida's attorney general, James Uthmeier, said investigators have issued search warrants and subpoenas as part of a "now-active" inquiry.
The brothers face a civil suit in the US from a woman alleging they coerced her into sex work and defamed her after she gave evidence to Romania authorities. They deny these allegations.
Tate’s accusers in the UK said the news that the pair had left Romania for the US had “re-traumatised” them.
In a joint statement, the four women said: “We are in disbelief and feel retraumatised by the news that the Romanian authorities have given into pressure from the Trump administration to allow Andrew Tate to travel around Europe and to the US.
“We can only hope that the British authorities finally take action, do something about this terrifying unfolding situation and ensure he faces justice in the UK.”
