MPs Could Investigate Andrew Over Trade Envoy Confidentiality Breach Claims
The chairman of Parliament's cross-party Business and Trade Committee has indicated that MPs could potentially investigate claims that Prince Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as UK trade envoy with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Committee Chairman Says "Nothing Is Off the Table"
Liam Byrne, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, stated that "nothing is off the table" regarding potential parliamentary scrutiny of the allegations. He emphasized that "MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks" when it comes to examining the serious claims.
His comments follow the release of documents by the US Department of Justice that appear to show the former duke, who served as the UK's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, sharing confidential reports from official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore with Epstein.
Former Business Secretary Calls for Corruption Investigation
Sir Vince Cable, who served as business secretary from 2010 to 2015, overlapping with part of Andrew's tenure as trade envoy, described the alleged activity as "totally unacceptable." He has suggested there should be an investigation for possible corruption related to these claims.
Byrne explained that the committee has not yet had opportunity to properly examine the allegations due to parliamentary recess, but he is preparing options for when members reconvene. "My task this week is to make sure that the committee has got options in front of them when they meet on Tuesday for how we might or might not take this investigation forward," he told the BBC.
Police Already Consulting Prosecution Specialists
Thames Valley Police have confirmed they have held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service regarding allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports. Byrne acknowledged this ongoing police work, stating "obviously, we can't and don't want to compromise a police investigation."
When asked specifically whether the committee might seek to speak with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor directly, Byrne declined to pre-judge the committee's direction but reiterated that "at this stage, all I can say is, nothing is off the table."
Royal Family Continues to Grapple with Epstein Fallout
The Epstein scandal continues to overshadow much of the royal family's work in recent weeks, despite King Charles's attempts to draw a line under the matter when he banished Andrew from royal duties and removed his titles. The latest document revelations have reignited scrutiny of Andrew's conduct during his decade as trade envoy.
Byrne concluded with a firm commitment to thorough examination: "This is something we're going to take acutely seriously and I can guarantee you that MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks." The committee's potential investigation adds another layer of official scrutiny to allegations that have already prompted police consultation with prosecution specialists.
