John McDonnell adds to calls for Prince Andrew to help with FBI Jeffrey Epstein inquiry

Prince Andrew should volunteer to help the FBI with its investigation into billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Labour’s John McDonnell said today.

The shadow chancellor said the Duke of York should “make sure that justice is served”.

Asked on Sky News if Andrew should volunteer himself to the FBI, given his links to Epstein, Mr McDonnell said: “I think he should. He should co-operate with all the authorities.”

FBI and prosecutors for the southern district of New York are continuing to investigate sex-trafficking allegations against Epstein, 66, who died in prison in August. Lawyers for Epstein’s alleged victims have called on the prince to apologise for his friendship with the sex offender.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Everybody needs to remember that when serious allegations are made and when in a case like this, the perpetrator has died, there are still people out there who have suffered and they need to be at the centre of our thoughts before we start to talk about the merits of individual cases.” Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Chuka Umunna said the prince should fly to the US to give evidence.

In a BBC interview, the duke “categorically” denied having any sexual contact with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s accusers. She claims she was forced to have sex with the prince three times between 2001 and 2002, in London, New York and the US Virgin Islands. He also insisted he had not known anything about Epstein’s wrongdoing

Mr Umunna claimed the duke was “doing immeasurable harm to the royal family”, and added: “The lack of self-awareness is breath-taking. He should go to the US, give evidence where needed and do the right thing.”