An influential group of MPs are contemplating launching a parliamentary probe into the position of UK commerce envoys after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace.
The enterprise and commerce committee will focus on its choices on Tuesday amid the police investigation after allegations have been made in opposition to the previous prince following the discharge of information associated to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
It is known that any inquiry would take a look at potential governance points inside the wider system and classes to be discovered, avoiding particular commentary on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor till there isn’t a danger of prejudicing legal proceedings.
MPs may additionally contemplate wanting extra broadly on the appointment and accountability of UK commerce envoys on the assembly.
The committee’s chair, Liam Byrne, informed The Telegraph he takes the matter “acutely seriously”, saying that MPs “are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks”.
It comes amid reviews that Lord Mandelson – who was compelled to resign over his hyperlinks with Jeffrey Epstein – backed Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for the position regardless of the King expressing opposition to it.
The Telegraph reported that King Charles urged his mom Elizabeth II to dam the appointment, with one supply telling the newspaper he expressed issues that Andrew’s “head would be turned by rich people”.
The King additionally reportedly warned that his brother couldn’t “help himself” when temptation was put in his manner.
But the warnings have been ignored, with Lord Mandelson having reportedly argued the previous prince was “well suited” to the position.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who was chief of the Opposition when Andrew was appointed to the position, mentioned the committee “needs to ask the question of was Mandelson involved and if so why?”
He added: “To what degree did Tony Blair know Mandelson was supporting this, because none of this would have happened if Andrew hadn’t been appointed in the first place.”
Meanwhile, Reform UK’s Richard Tice mentioned: “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as UK trade envoy must be urgently investigated. His close ties to Jeffrey Epstein were clear at the time, and Andrew continued in his role even after Epstein’s first conviction for soliciting prostitution from minors.
“Questions must be asked as to why Tony Blair’s government thought this man was fit to represent us on the world stage.”
However, it’s understood that no such questions can be requested till the legal proceedings have concluded.
Dubbed “Air Miles Andy” amid criticism of his globetrotting, Andrew was accused of overusing helicopters at taxpayers’ expense throughout his 10-year stint within the position, specifically to attend golf-related dinners as a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
As a roving ambassador, one in every of his first duties was a post-September 11 journey to New York, however Andrew confronted a backlash for attending a celebration throughout his keep.
His relations with Timor Kulibayev, son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan, have been scrutinised after Mr Kulibayev bought the previous duke’s Sunninghill Park residence for £3m greater than its £12m asking value in 2007.
And he additionally confronted questions over his connections to politicians in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Libya and Turkmenistan.
Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace after allegations have been made in opposition to him following the discharge of information associated to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes as the federal government vowed to contemplate eradicating him from the road of succession as soon as police investigations have concluded.
Despite being stripped of his title final yr, the previous Duke of York continues to be eighth in line to the throne and an act of parliament can be required to take away Andrew and forestall him from ever changing into king.
Sir Keir Starmer’s authorities will contemplate introducing such laws as soon as police have completed their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother, it’s understood.
The former duke spent 11 hours in police custody on his 66th birthday on Thursday earlier than being launched beneath investigation following allegations he shared delicate data with Epstein throughout his time because the UK’s commerce envoy.
Detectives continued to go looking his former residence, Royal Lodge, in Windsor, Berkshire, on Friday.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andrew-peter-mandelson-trade-envoy-epstein-b2924893.html