The Conservative politician John Selwyn Gummer has been interviewed by former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson on her morning show on Times Radio about his friend Mike Lynch.

Gummer, who now sits in the House of Lords as Baron Deben, said it had been “the beginning of a new life” for Lynch following his acquittal on fraud charges in the US in June.

Gummer said it was “disgraceful” that the software mogul had been extradited on what the peer described as “trumped-up charges” and said following his acquittal he had been hoping to campaign against “one-sided rules” that had meant he faced trial in the US.

The politician, who lived near Lynch in Somerset, said he “carried his immense knowledge and learning lightly” and “it was a joy to have him in his community”.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch, is also missing and Gummer paid tribute to Lynch’s family saying they had supported him through the court case.

The others missing are Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive director at Lynch’s company Autonomy, his wife, Judy Bloomer, Chris Morvillo, one of Lynch’s lawyer’s and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Gummer said it was typical of Lynch to show his gratitude to those who had helped him by inviting them on holiday.

Divers resumed a search this morning for survivors after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday.

Six people including the software tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah, remain unaccounted for, as rescue teams have struggled to reach inside the yacht.

A Reuters photographer saw coast guard rescue vessels leave Porticello early today to head for the site of the incident.