Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch has been plunged into a political storm after revealing that a Treasury minister held a secret meeting with a key associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Business Secretary faced intense questioning in the Commons after being forced to admit that Economic Secretary Bim Afolami met with the Epstein associate, though she claimed she couldn't recall when the meeting occurred or what was discussed.
Opposition Demands Full Disclosure
Labour's shadow leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, didn't hold back during the fiery exchange, demanding: "Who was this associate, what was the nature of this meeting, and will she publish all the details of it?"
The revelation has sent shockwaves through Westminster, with opposition parties calling for complete transparency about the nature and content of the meeting involving a serving Treasury minister.
Government's Memory Lapse Raises Eyebrows
In what critics are calling a convenient memory lapse, Badenoch told MPs she had "asked for details of the meeting, but I don't have them to hand." The admission has raised serious questions about the government's record-keeping and transparency standards.
Pressed repeatedly by Powell about whether she could confirm the meeting took place, Badenoch eventually conceded: "I believe that is the case."
Growing Pressure for Investigation
The controversy comes amid ongoing scrutiny of political connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Political analysts suggest this revelation could prove damaging for the government, particularly given the sensitivity surrounding Epstein's network and the demand for accountability from public officials.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are on the Treasury to provide a full account of the meeting and its purpose, with many questioning why such significant details appear to have been overlooked or forgotten.
