Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called for Keir Starmer to put pressure on Donald Trump to extradite Andrew and Tristan Tate to the UK, where a warrant has been issued over rape and human trafficking allegations
Keir Starmer has been challenged to pressure Donald Trump to get Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan extradited to the UK.
The PM was urged press the US President by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, who told MPs that four British women had accused Andrw Tate of rape. The British-American influencers were allowed to travel to the US last week when a travel ban imposed by Romanian authorities were lifted.
Bedfordshire Police has a warrant against the self-styled “misogynist influencer”, 38, and his 36-year-old brother over allegations of rape and trafficking dating back to 2012 to 2015.
The brothers are accused of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in Romania. Authorities in Florida have now launched a criminal investigation against them.
There are questions about whether the US President’s team played a role in securing the Tate brothers’ travel ban being listed. Romanian foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu said Trump special envoy Richard Grenell had raised the case with him in Munich last month.
And Trump has described their detention as “absolute insanity” – but it is unknown if there was any direct intervention. Speaking at PMQs Sir Ed said: “Four British women have accused Andrew Tate of rape and human trafficking and British police have issued arrest warrants. The Tates have tried to escape justice first to Romania, now to the United States.
“But I’m delighted that Florida has essentially opened a criminal investigation. 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 Starmer responded: “This is a live issue as he’ll appreciate so I’ll tread carefully. But the principle is absolutely clear – 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.”
The Tate brothers deny any wrongdoing. Seperatately four women, who claim they were subjected to sexual violence by Andrew Tate between 2013 and 2015, last week urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to request his extradition in order not to fail “all British victims”.
The four women who have called for Tate’s extradition are bringing a civil case against him at the High Court in the UK, after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to prosecute in 2019.