Advertisement

Chuka Umunna labels Prince Andrew 'a complete disgrace' and says he must face FBI investigators

Chuka Umunna has labelled Prince Andrew "a complete disgrace" after the TV interview that picked apart the royal's friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Umunna, who was elected as a Labour MP in Streatham in 2010 before quitting and joining the Lib Dems, lashed out at the Duke of York, saying he needed to face FBI investigators in the US or stand down from royal duties.

Talking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, the candidate for Cities of London and Westminster said of Prince Andrew: "I just think he's a complete disgrace. I cannot believe the interview that happened.

"And I cannot understand why public figures - particularly politicians - have been pulling their punches on this...I have to say I've been quite surprised by how hesitant people have been.

"The monarchy continues to exist with consent, and he has done more to undermine the democratic consent - if you can call it that - in the monarchy than any other member of the royal family in my lifetime. He has let down the institution."

Mr Umunna said he watched the Newsnight interview with Emily Maitils, and said the Duke's "lack of self-awareness" was "breathtaking".

"He should go to the US and give evidence where needed and do the right thing, because he has done plenty of the wrong things so far," he added.

 

The main talking points from an extraordinary interview

The interview itself lasted less than an hour, but it threw up a plethora of talking points.

Here, our Senior Reporter Patrick Sawer pours over the things that stood out from the extraordinary TV grilling.

Prince Andrew:

  1. Said he couldn't have had sex with Virginia Roberts Giuffre because he was at Pizza Express in Woking with Princess Beatrice

  2. Debunked Ms Roberts' allegations, saying he was sweaty, by claiming he had a condition which meant he did not perspire

  3. Suggested he felt compelled to speak out over Epstein for mental health reasons

  4. Admitted the controversy over his friendship with Epstein has been a "constant sore" within the Royal family

  5. Cast doubt over the photo of him and Ms Roberts, saying he wasn't one for public shows of affection

  6. Described Epstein's house as being like "a railway station", and said he didn't keep an eye on who was there because he was so used to staff being at Buckingham Palace

  7. Appeared not to offer any remorse for Epstein's victims, instead saying he had to have a thick skin

  8. Said he would remember having sex with Ms Roberts, because for a man intercourse is a "positive action"

  9. Insisted he would give evidence under oath if required to do so

  10. Said, remarkably, he does not regret his friendship with Epstein

  11. Claimed he only visited Epstein in December 2010 to break off their friendship after he was released from prison

  12. Invited Epstein to Windsor Castle for the 18th birthday party of his daughter Beatrice in July 2006, just two months after an arrest warrant had been issued on Epstein for sexually assaulting a minor

  13. Stayed at Epstein's New York mansion for "convenience"

Duke accuser 'gives first British TV interview'

It emerged overnight that Virginia Roberts Giuffre - the Epstein "sex slave" that Prince Andrew is accused of having sex with when she was 17 - is thought to have given her first TV interview to a British broadcaster.

Sources close to the American have told the Daily Mirror she has talked to the BBC's Panorama in a bid to shatter the Duke's denials.

The interview is said to have taken place before Emily Mailtlis sat down with Prince Andrew for the Newsnight grilling, which was aired on Saturday night.

Ms Roberts' legal team are said to be angry as speculation in the US builds that her interview has been held back in order to protect the Duke's appearance, according to The Mirror.

A source told the paper: "Her legal team are at a loss as to why the interviews have not been broadcast."

While BBC insiders told The Mirror the Panorama interview was "part of a larger investigation", a spokesman for broadcaster said: "We never comment on investigations."