In brief
- The comments came during a debate about the release of documents related to Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as a trade envoy.
- Mountbatten-Windsor was the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in more than three centuries.
A UK minister has described Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as “a rude, arrogant and entitled man” during a debate in the British parliament.
Chris Bryant, a junior trade minister, on Tuesday said the former prince’s time as a trade envoy was a “constant self-aggrandising, self-enriching hustle” and he “could not distinguish between the public interest, which he said he served, and his own private interest”.
The comments came during a debate on whether the UK government should release documents relating to Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy amid widening scrutiny over his ties to US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Politicians from opposition parties lined up to criticise Mountbatten-Windsor. At least four said the convention shielding the royal family in parliament should end.
“These arcane rules make a mockery of our democracy,” said Brendan O’Hara, a member of parliament for the Scottish National Party. “Nobody, regardless of rank or privilege, should or must be above the law.”
Last week’s arrest of King Charles’ younger brother has led some politicians to openly question — during a debate — if it was time to end the parliamentary convention that prevents them from criticising the royal family.
The House of Commons speaker had given politicians approval to discuss the former prince on the basis that he is no longer a member of the royal family, having been stripped of his titles.
Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in more than three centuries when he was questioned by officers on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Police are investigating reports that he sent trade reports to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 while he was a trade envoy for the UK government.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who was released without charge, has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship.
The Liberal Democrats pressured the government to compel it to release all the documents related to his appointment using an arcane parliamentary procedure known as a humble address.
Bryant said the government supported the motion, and it was unanimously passed.
There was a small turnout from politicians from the ruling Labour Party and the opposition Conservatives, the two main political parties.
Bryant said he would try to get the documents released as soon as possible, but officials would need to check that it would not interfere with the police investigation.
Publication of the vetting documents could embarrass figures who served in then-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government when he was appointed, as well as members of the British royal family, which is facing its worst crisis in 90 years over Mountbatten-Windsor’s connections to Epstein.
One former senior royal aide who knows the king well said the scandal was the worst for the royal family since the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936.
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