Gordon Brown has revealed that he ordered Prince Andrew to be questioned about incurring “unacceptable costs” as a trade envoy in 2008, as he called for the police to widen their investigation to include the use of public funds. The former prime minister said he asked a colleague from the business department to raise the issue with the Duke of York over his travel expenses.
Writing in the New Statesman, Brown said the prince regularly used RAF flights and, when challenged, asked whether the government seriously believed he should travel on commercial flights. Brown also disclosed that when he was chancellor, Andrew demanded a fleet of aeroplanes separate from the RAF, funded by the taxpayer, a request Brown turned down after deeming the costs prohibitive and informing the Queen.
The call for a broader investigation comes as police continue to examine Andrew’s dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brown argued that authorities must now question whether public funds were used for private liaisons or business arrangements. He urged police to interview officials and request records from the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Foreign Office.
The former prime minister also highlighted reports that women may have been trafficked to UK locations including Sandringham and Buckingham Palace. He called for a parliamentary select committee to examine how public funds were used and whether a cover-up prevented Andrew from being interviewed by US investigators.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they were aware of allegations regarding women in London properties linked to Epstein but that no complaints had been made. The force is among six UK police forces considering whether Epstein-linked flights into British airports merit a full criminal investigation.
