Gordon Brown has revealed that he ordered Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be questioned about incurring “unacceptable costs” as a trade envoy in 2008, and has called for police to widen their inquiry to include the use of public funds.
The former prime minister said he asked a colleague from the business department to question Mountbatten-Windsor about his travel expenses. In a piece for the New Statesman, Brown said the former prince regularly used RAF flights, and his response was to ask whether the government seriously believed he should have to travel on commercial flights.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office as police investigated his dealings with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has been released under investigation and has denied any wrongdoing.
Brown wrote: “Police must now interview officials and ask for records from three government departments – the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign Office – all involved in managing his trips while serving as UK trade envoy.” He added: “We must now question whether public funds were used in pursuit not just of his public duties but of his alleged private liaisons and even private business arrangements.”
Brown also said that when he was chancellor, the then prince demanded a fleet of aeroplanes separate from the RAF, provided by public funds. Brown said he turned down the request and informed the queen. He called for authorities to re-interview Andrew over possible breaches of the Official Secrets Act, use of public funds, and any links to allegations that Epstein trafficked women into the UK.
