Starmer piles pressure on Andrew to testify in the US over his ‘ties’ to Jeffrey Epstein after disgraced royal ignored calls to give evidence to Congress

Sir Keir Starmer pressured Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence to the US Congress about what he knew about Jeffrey Epstein.

The disgraced royal has so far ignored demands from American politicians to provide information about the pedophilia financier and his network of contacts.

But on Saturday night – breaking a long-standing tradition of Prime Ministers not commenting on royal affairs – Sir Keir told reporters at the G20 summit in South Africa: ‘Anyone with information about such cases should give evidence.’

When asked directly about whether this principle would apply to Andrew, the Prime Minister said: ‘In the end it will be a decision for him. But my general view is that if you have relevant information you should be prepared to share it.’

Democratic members of the House oversight committee issued a call for the former Duke of York to ‘explain’ about his ‘ties’ to the convicted pedophile, but he did not respond within the two-week window.

Congress cannot force foreigners to testify but Sir Keir’s intervention will increase pressure on Andrew, 65, who has been friends with Epstein for years despite being convicted of procuring children for prostitution. The ensuing scandal cost him his royal titles and his Windsor manor, Royal Lodge.

However, the comments will also leave the Prime Minister open to accusations that he is trying to ‘bury’ news about his mounting political troubles, including plots to oust him as leader and widespread economic gloom ahead of Wednesday’s tax-rise Budget, under reports about the former Duke of York.

A poll of Labor Party members on Saturday night revealed Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting would win a neck-and-neck leadership contest against Sir Keir. The survey by Survation for LabourList found that more than half (54 per cent) of members want a new leader before the next general election.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer asks Andrew to give evidence to US Congress about what he knows about Jeffrey Epstein

Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday has been told that Labor MPs increasingly expect Sir Keir to resign next year without being challenged.

So far the Government has stayed out of the Andrew saga. When Buckingham Palace decided to strip him of the title of prince last month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: ‘Our thoughts must be with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and those who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the abuse he suffered, but these are matters for the Royal Family.’

Sir Keir’s comments were welcomed by oversight committee member Congressman Suhas Subramanyam on Saturday night.

He told the MoS: ‘Prime Minister Starmer is right; Andrew must provide us with any information that will assist our investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

‘There is clear evidence that they were friendly. ‘This is Andrew’s opportunity to clear his name, if he has done nothing wrong, and bring long-awaited justice to the victims.’

US lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents 27 of Epstein’s victims, said: ‘Why is Andrew resisting helping an investigation that is so important to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and survivors?

‘This is his opportunity to help survivors by volunteering to speak under oath before Congress. Will he or won’t he? King Charles should encourage him to do this because it is the right thing to do. Andrew’s silence is deafening.’

David Boies, another lawyer representing Epstein victims including Virginia Giuffre, said: ‘Prince Andrew certainly has relevant information and should be prepared to share it. ‘This is also an opportunity for her to take some responsibility, show some remorse and perhaps begin the process of moving on from her relationship with Epstein.’

Another victim advocate, Lisa Bloom, said: ‘On behalf of the eleven Epstein victims I represent: we THANK Prime Minister Starmer for stating the obvious: anyone with information about one of the world’s most prolific predators must help law enforcement bring all these accomplices to justice. This includes the man formerly known as Prince Andrew.’

In other developments:

• In a move that could further embarrass the Royal Family, Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is reportedly considering offers from US broadcasters for a tell-all TV interview;
• It was made clear that the couple were ‘no longer welcome’ at their favorite exclusive nightclub, Annabel’s, and staff at the swanky venue were told they should not be allowed to enter;
• Metropolitan Police detectives are examining the posthumous memories of Ms Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexual assault and claimed he always died violently.

Andrew has failed to respond two weeks after Democratic members of the House oversight committee issued a call for him to ‘come forward’ about his ‘links’ to the convicted pedophile

Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is reportedly considering offers from US broadcasters for a tell-all TV interview

Andrew was stripped of his royal titles last month due to the Virginia Giuffre scandal. Pictured: The duo with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001

The House oversight committee said in its letter to Andrew that it would “investigate Mountbatten-Windsor’s allegations of abuse and seek information about Epstein’s operations, network and associates, based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship.”

Robert Garcia, the committee’s most senior Democratic figure, added: ‘Rich and powerful men have evaded justice for too long.’

Andrew’s failure to respond to their demands led lawmakers to issue a new statement last week: ‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s silence in the face of oversight over Democrats’ request for testimony speaks volumes.’

The statement said that ‘he has serious questions to answer, but he continues to hide’, but added that the committee’s ‘work will progress with or without him… We will ensure justice for the survivors’.

The newspaper was the first to publish the infamous photo of then-Prince Andrew with his arm around Ms. Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with the royal.

Donald Trump last week signed into law an order requiring federal investigators to release all information about Epstein’s crimes. In a major reversal, the US President named in some of the already released emails has abandoned his staunch opposition to the measures following outrage from Epstein’s victims and his own Republican supporters.

Documents must be submitted within 30 days. This follows several new tranches of emails showing Mountbatten-Windsor ‘spending hours in a room’ with one of Epstein’s victims.

Palace aides are also said to be worried about what Ms Ferguson, 66, might share if she accepts an offer to tell her story in an interview in the US. A source told The Sun: ‘There is a danger he could resort to deceit and say things that would embarrass King Charles.’