Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has dramatically broken with longstanding political convention by publicly urging Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to provide evidence to US Congress about his connections with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Breaking the Royal Silence
During the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday night, Sir Keir directly addressed the growing pressure on the former Duke of York, who has ignored a formal request from American politicians to come forward with information about Epstein's network.
The Prime Minister told reporters: 'Anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kinds of cases should give evidence.' When pressed specifically about whether this principle applied to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sir Keir added: 'In the end, that will be a decision for him. But my general position is if you have relevant information you should be prepared to share it.'
Mounting Political and International Pressure
Democratic members of the House oversight committee had issued a formal summons to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to 'come forward' about his 'ties' to Epstein, but the 65-year-old royal failed to respond within the two-week deadline. Although Congress cannot legally compel foreign nationals to testify, Sir Keir's unprecedented intervention significantly increases the pressure on Andrew.
The ongoing scandal has already cost Andrew his royal titles and his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge. His friendship with Epstein persisted for years, even after Epstein's conviction for procuring children for prostitution.
Several prominent lawyers representing Epstein's victims have voiced strong support for the Prime Minister's position. Gloria Allred, who has represented 27 of Epstein's victims, questioned: 'Why does Andrew resist helping in an investigation which is so important to victims and survivors?'
David Boies, another lawyer who represented victims including Virginia Giuffre, stated that Andrew 'certainly has relevant information and he should be prepared to share it.' Lisa Bloom, representing eleven victims, thanked Prime Minister Starmer 'for stating the obvious.'
Political Fallout and Leadership Challenges
The Prime Minister's comments come amid significant political turbulence within his own party. A Survation poll conducted for LabourList revealed that more than half of Labour members (54%) want a new leader before the next general election.
The polling found that Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting would all defeat Sir Keir in head-to-head leadership contests. Meanwhile, sources indicate that Labour MPs increasingly expect Sir Keir to quit next year before facing a formal challenge.
Critics have suggested the Prime Minister's intervention in the royal matter may be an attempt to divert attention from his mounting political troubles, including plots to topple him as leader and widespread economic concerns ahead of Wednesday's tax-raising Budget.
Additional Developments in the Epstein Case
In further developments, Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson, is reportedly considering lucrative offers from US broadcasters for a tell-all television interview, a move that palace aides fear could cause further embarrassment to the Royal Family.
The couple have also been informed they are 'no longer welcome' at their preferred private nightclub Annabel's, with staff instructed not to permit their entry.
Metropolitan Police detectives are examining the posthumous memoirs of Virginia Giuffre, who had accused Andrew of sexual abuse - allegations he has always vehemently denied.
In a significant development, Donald Trump recently signed into law an order to release all federal investigation information about Epstein's crimes within 30 days, reversing his previous opposition to the measures following pressure from Epstein's victims and Republican supporters.
The House oversight committee has made clear that their investigation into 'allegations of abuse by Mountbatten-Windsor' and Epstein's operations will continue 'with or without him,' vowing to 'get justice for the survivors.'
