Keir Starmer unveils up bombshell transfer to take away Andrew from line of succession

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will be removed from the line of succession under plans considered by the government, it is understood. The disgraced former prince, currently eighth in line to the throne, would be removed by an Act of Parliament after agreement with the 14 British realms.

Sources suggest the government will begin consultation after the conclusion of multiple police investigations into allegations surrounding Andrew’s conduct. The King’s brother, who was dramatically arrested at his temporary Norfolk home on Thursday and held for 11 hours, had faced mounting calls to relinquish his role.

Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne after Princes William and Harry and their children. The King effectively stripped him of his royal titles in October after new information came to light about his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in millions of documents released by the US State Department.

Andrew is still a counsellor of state, the select group of adult royals who could be named to fill in for the monarch if he was ill or abroad. Despite it being impossible for this to happen, as only working royals are used meaning both Andrew and Prince Harry are surplus to requirements, the royal family has been concerned with the optics of the former Duke of York remaining in the post.

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, joined a chorus of voices saying Andrew’s place in the line of royal succession was something Parliament was “going to have to consider when the time is right”.

An act of Parliament would be required to remove Andrew from the line of succession. “The most important thing right now is that the police be allowed to get on with their job, acting without fear or favour,” Sir Ed said.

“But clearly this is an issue that Parliament is going to have to consider when the time is right, naturally the monarchy will want to make sure he can never become king.”

Detectives will continue to search Andrew’s former home Royal Lodge in Windsor following his release from custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He was held on Thursday morning after allegations were made against him following the release of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.

Following Andrew’s arrest, the King said in a statement that “the law must take its course” and the police have “our full and wholehearted support and co-operation”.

Recent YouGov polling shows the majority of Britons (82%) think the former prince should be removed from the line of succession, just 6% believed he should not. Various MPs and party leaders have called for a full statutory inquiry following the arrest, with some demanding a debate on the future of the monarchy.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski described the situation as “pretty awful” and said there are many questions to be answered. Speaking while campaigning in Gorton, Greater Manchester, Mr Polanski said: “We obviously need to wait for the legal process to make its way, but I would say we really need a full statutory inquiry into public figures from institutions, where crimes have been committed – if they’ve been committed – what we knew, what other people in those institutions knew and, where necessary, to make sure that the appropriate people are removed.”

Mr Polanski said he did not believe the country should have a monarchy. He said: “The monarchy are doing a pretty good job in themselves of not having their proudest moments over various issues we’ve seen in the last couple of years and, when the public are ready to have that national conversation about the monarchy, I think issues like this certainly don’t help the monarchy’s case.”

Labour MP Rachael Maskell told the Press Association that all allegations against Andrew should be scrutinised “in the appropriate way”. “From the evidence already held in the public domain, it is clear that his position as a Counsellor of State and with succession rights are removed, as well as all titles,” the York Central MP said.

“I trust that legislation can be passed to achieve this. I am glad that the King seeks to be as helpful as he can, and providing support to Parliament to act would assist in this.”

On X, Labour’s Richard Burgon (Leeds East) called for an independent inquiry into what the royal family knew about Andrew’s Epstein links. He said: “It’s time for a serious national debate about abolishing the monarchy. “Even if you disagree, we should discuss the role of hereditary privilege in our democracy.”