Keir Starmer breaks silence on latest Andrew Mountbatten bombshell

Sir Keir Starmer has said that it is Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's decision whether he decides to give evidence to a US congressional committee, after Democrats summoned him to answer questions as part of their investigation into paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Asked about the development by the travelling UK media in Brazil, where he is attending the COP30 summit, the Prime Minister said: "Well, in the end, it's a matter for him personally. My view, and this is not about the individual case, more broadly, is that anybody who has relevant information should always be willing to give it to whatever inquiries need that information.

"But the individual decision is a matter for him."

Members of the House Oversight Committee have requested that disgraced Andrew sit for a "transcribed interview" in connection with his "long-standing friendship" with the convicted paedophile.

In the letter, sent to the former prince on Thursday, the US politicians said their committee had identified "financial records containing notations such as 'massage for Andrew' that raise serious questions".

Robert Garcia, the most senior Democratic member of the US congressional panel, said: "Rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors. Oversight Democrats will not stop fighting for accountability and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators."

The formal request, sent via a letter, came just days after the disgraced royal was stripped of his titles and honours due to his links to Epstein. Aside from Congressman Garcia, the letter was co-signed by 15 other Democratic committee members.

It requested a response by November 20.

The letter to Andrew read: "It has been publicly reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution. It has also been reported that you travelled with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen's residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of abusing minors.

"This close relationship with Mr Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him 'we are in this together,' further confirms our suspicion that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for Andrew to heed the invitation.

He said on X: "It's right Andrew Mountbatten Windsor appears before US Congress over his links to Epstein and his victims. He should also give evidence to our Parliament. The public deserves answers and full transparency about this scandal."

Epstein took his own life in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.