Andrew dealt worldwide blow as world leaders converse on ‘grave allegations’
Australia and New Zealand have said they would support the UK Government if it proposes to remove Prince Andrew from the line of succession to the British throne
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured in 2022(Image: AP)
New Zealand and Australia have declared they would back the UK Government if it proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
The scandal-ridden prince was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.
A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon, New Zealand’s prime minister, stated: “If the UK Government proposes to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the order of succession, New Zealand would support it.
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“The UK Government has said any proposals would come after the police investigation concludes.”
This statement from New Zealand follows Australia’s Prime Minister expressing in a letter to Sir Keir Starmer that his government would back “any proposal” to remove Andrew from the line of succession. In his letter to the UK Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese described Andrew as facing “grave allegations”, adding: “Australians take them seriously.”
Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on radio on Tuesday, Mr Albanese revealed that Sir Keir “thanked me for our position” and stated the Australian government would be “writing today to the other realm countries as well, informing them of our position”.
Despite being stripped of his title last year, Andrew still holds the eighth position in line to the throne, and it would take an Act of Parliament to remove Andrew and bar him from ever ascending to the throne.
Reports suggest that the UK Government will contemplate introducing such legislation once the police have concluded their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother.
On Tuesday, February 24, the Liberal Democrats will attempt to compel the public disclosure of documents related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy.
The Lib Dems will propose a humble address in the Commons – the same obscure procedure the Tories employed to push for the release of files on Lord Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment – in an effort to force the Government to reveal information about Andrew, who served as a trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
The motion will demand the release of documents pertaining to Andrew’s appointment to the role, including any vetting and any correspondence from Lord Mandelson.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey stated: “The public is rightly demanding to know how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was appointed to represent our nation in a high-level trade role.”
“The Liberal Democrats are moving a binding motion to force the Government to come clean.
“We need to see the vetting files, the due diligence reports, and the correspondence to understand how this appointment came to be, and whether glaring warning signs were missed.”
The message from New Zealand comes after Australia’s Prime Minister said in a letter to Sir Keir Starmer that his government would support “There’s also a much broader principle at stake here.
“No one, regardless of their title or their friends, should be beyond the scrutiny of Parliament.
“It is time to end the age of impunity, scrap rules that stifle scrutiny or debate, and ensure that everyone in public office – no matter how powerful – can be held properly to account.”
Andrew has consistently refuted any misconduct regarding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, he has not reacted to the most recent allegations.
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