Jeffrey Epstein victims are planning to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham to campaign for launching a full public inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The UK Epstein Survivors Campaign, representing close to a dozen victims, including the well-known campaigner Lisa Phillips, plans to hold talks with Mr Burnham in the months ahead as part of what it describes as a drive for "truth and justice".
Reports of a British inquiry
It comes after reports from last week suggested that Mr Burnham was going to approve a British inquiry into Epstein as police investigations appear to have lost momentum. Downing Street subsequently denied this, though sources indicated that the Prime Minister remains considerably more engaged with the matter than his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister is expected to sit down with Epstein survivors in the coming months, while Irish taoiseach Micheál Martin has likewise committed to meeting them.
Survivors' demands for transparency
A spokesperson for the UK Epstein Survivors Campaign said: "If there has ever been an opportunity to finally secure the truth and justice that survivors have been denied for so long, we believe that opportunity exists now under Prime Minister Andy Burnham."
In a statement provided to The Telegraph, the survivors said: "Records and correspondence concerning Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor including reported discussions involving money, finances and their relationships with Epstein demonstrate precisely why the public deserves complete transparency."
The survivors also told the paper: "Survivors deserve to know the truth. The British and Irish public deserve to know the truth. And no individual should be protected from legitimate scrutiny because of wealth, political influence, social status or proximity to power."
Custody and denials
"It is appalling that, after everything they endured and the courage it took to speak out, UK survivors like so many Epstein survivors in the United States and around the world are still waiting for the justice and accountability they deserve."
In February, both Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson were taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office, accused of having passed sensitive information to Epstein and others. Both men rejected the allegations and were subsequently released while investigations continue.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing connected to Epstein. Lord Mandelson has acknowledged maintaining contact with the financier for "far too long" but insists he witnessed no criminal behaviour.
