MPs could try to speak to Andrew on trade envoy claims – committee chairman
There is potential for MPs to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s work as a trade envoy, the chairman of the cross-party Business and Trade Committee has said.
Liam Byrne told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “nothing is off the table” and “MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks”.
His comments come after documents released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show the former prince sharing confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Vince Cable, whose time as business secretary between 2010 and 2015 overlapped with Andrew’s envoy role, said the activity was “totally unacceptable” and suggested there should be an investigation for possible corruption.
Mr Byrne told the BBC: “The committee has not had a chance to reflect on these allegations because recess means Parliament isn’t sitting this week.
“My task this week is to make sure that the committee has got options in front of them when they meet on Tuesday for how we might or might not take this investigation forward.
“Obviously, we can’t and don’t want to compromise a police investigation.”
Emails released as part of the so-called Epstein files earlier this month appear to show the former duke – who served as trade envoy between 2001 and 2011 – sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with the paedophile financier.
Thames Valley Police previously said they have held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about the allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports.
Mr Byrne said he did not want to “pre-judge where the committee is going to go on this at this stage” when asked on the programme if it could potentially ask to speak to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor but stated “at this stage, all I can say is, nothing is off the table”.
He said: “This is something we’re going to take acutely seriously and I can guarantee you that MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks.”
Much of the work of the royal family in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the Epstein scandal, despite the King’s attempts to draw a line under the matter when he banished Andrew and removed his titles.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Tricky. He probably wont do it. Evidence lead it, get all the files from Trump. Anyone in that file is examined where legal proceedings can go. So you now have to get the GOP in the US to release the un redacted files. Because at the moment they are only releasing the tidbits that deflect from Trump, the GOP are prepared to protect paedophiles. and there are worse, but we are looking at the few and missing the many. Only one person is in jail, the perps are loose. Do this right and do it legal tight so no wriggle… Read more »
If anyone seriously thinks pathological liar Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will face justice for his crimes, are sadly deluded. Remember, those same sycophants who are now calling for him to testify in front of the US Senate prior to his downfall once referred to him as “Your Highness”. The royals are a law unto themselves; they can practically do anything with impunity. After all, the late Queen paid £12 million to effectively silence a victim of alleged sexual abuse, in order to stop the then Prince Andrew from testifying. In my opinion, it was a trap laid that ended up being very… Read more »