Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be re-interviewed by police over his use of taxpayers' money and allegations that women were trafficked to Britain. Brown urged authorities to speak to the former prince again following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February.
Andrew was detained after fresh details about his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged in documents published by the US Department of Justice. The files appeared to show the former Duke of York sharing sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
Writing in the New Statesman, Mr Brown said Andrew was interviewed at his request during his time in government over 'unacceptable costs he was incurring'. He wrote: 'The British authorities should now re-interview Andrew, not just over possible breaches of the Official Secrets Act, but over his use of public funds. And especially over incidents in which women allegedly brought to him at Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Windsor and at other locations, may have been trafficked into the country by Epstein.'
Andrew, who was stripped of his 'prince' title by King Charles last year, has always denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links.
Mr Brown confirmed Andrew was quizzed by a business minister during his time in Downing Street. 'Andrew was interviewed, at my request when I was prime minister, by a minister from the business department about the unacceptable costs he was incurring,' he said. 'I was told that his response was to ask whether the government seriously believed that he should have to travel on commercial flights.'
The ex-Labour leader also said he turned down a request from Andrew for the government to 'pay for the Royal Family franchising its own fleet of planes' – a request he said he took straight to the late Queen.
Mr Brown said the police inquiry into Andrew's connection to Epstein should be 'widened' to include alleged sexual abuse. 'The police inquiry (must) immediately be widened to investigate a number of alleged incidents across Britain, involving the abuse of girls and women, including at royal residences,' he added. 'Because of the way Epstein's trafficking ring operated, evidence could be assembled from drivers, airline and airport staff, ticketing agents and credit card companies. Testimonies should also be secured from estate agents, banks, border officials and royal protection officers.'
Mr Brown previously said he had submitted a 'five-page memorandum' to police forces following Andrew's arrest in February, when he 'expressed my concern that we secure justice for trafficked girls and women'.
Writing in the magazine, the former premier said Andrew's use of public funds while serving as the UK's trade envoy should be scrutinised by authorities. He said: 'Nothing less than the prosecution of those who aided and abetted Epstein will do justice to those who suffered grievous, unconscionable sexual abuse. If, as the Epstein emails suggest, the former prince was passing government documents to friends, seemingly going beyond seeking advice on how to discharge his public role, then an investigation is called for – not just into the possible disclosure of official secrets, but into the use of public funds.'
Mr Brown continued: '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. While serving as trade envoy, the former prince regularly used RAF flights. 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.'
Mr Brown said the chairman of the House of Commons' Business and Trade Select Committee, Liam Byrne, has told him he will ask questions about Andrew's 'activities as trade envoy'. He added: 'The King has said that no-one should be above the law, and alongside the police investigation, a select committee in Parliament should examine how public funds were used, and whether a cover-up took place that prevented Andrew from being interviewed by US investigators.'
Andrew was released under investigation following his arrest in February.
