Sir Keir Starmer has renewed his calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to testify to Congress about what he knew about the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister was pressed on new revelations in the Epstein files about the former prince by reporters as he flew back from a four-day trip to the Far East, visiting China and Japan to meet their leaders.
Asked if it was now time for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to apologise to the victims of Epstein for his association with the disgraced paedophile and testify before Congress in the US about what he knew, the Prime Minister said: “I have always approached this question with the victims of Epstein in kind.
“Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority. As for whether there should be an apology, that’s a matter for Andrew.
“But, yes, in terms of testifying, I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that.
“You can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that.”
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing and being named in the documents does not suggest any misconduct.
It emerged in the cache of documents released by the US Department of Justice that Epstein had also sent £10,000 to Lord Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, when he was a Labour Minister in Gordon Brown’s Government.
The Prime Minister was pressed on new revelations in the Epstein files about the former prince by reporters as he flew back from a four-day trip to the Far East
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In September 2009, the paedophile financier reportedly sent thousands to Mr da Silva to cover osteopathy course fees.
Asked whether the £10,000 payment to Lord Mandelson’s spouse at a time when he was a Labour Business Secretary fell short of the standards he would expect for a peer or the realm, the Prime Minister declined to be drawn.
He said: “In relation to Peter Mandelson, obviously, he was removed as ambassador in relation to the further information that came to light in September of last year.
“I’ve nothing more to say in relation to Peter Mandelson.”
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein photographed at a party in 2000 | GETTY
Responding to the revelations, Lord Mandelson said in a statement: “I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards.
“I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.
“I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes.
“Like everyone else, I learned the actual truth about him after his death.
Sir Keir Starmer defended Lord Mandelson prior to emails emerging in which the peer offered support to Epstein | GETTY
“But his victims did know what he was doing, their voices were not heard and I am sorry I was amongst those who believed him over them.”
However, MPs have put pressure on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to discuss
The Liberal Democrats forced a debate on the 65-year-old’s connections to Epstein in November.
Democrat lawmakers also wrote to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on November 6 to ask him to sit for a transcribed interview.
The letter, signed by 16 members of the US House Oversight Committee, set a response deadline of November 20.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking cases | REUTERS
The former Duke of York missed the deadline to cooperate voluntarily.
Documents released by the US Department of Justice this week appeared to show Andrew on all fours over a woman.
The photo showed a man, believed to be the former prince, looking at the camera while a woman was lying on her back between his arms.
An email exchange also appeared to show the duke and Epstein discussing a “friend who I think you might enjoy having dinner with”.
The pair also disclosed dates she would be in London, the documents appear to show.