British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering launching a formal public inquiry into the actions of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein within the United Kingdom, the victims minister Alex Davies-Jones told BBC Newsnight.
Davies-Jones said Prime Minister Burnham - who took office in July - will meet with people who say they were victimised by Epstein, and that a public inquiry could follow that meeting. "We are looking into this. We are seeing what is possible," the minister told the programme.
The minister's remarks come as the wider fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate through the British establishment nearly seven years after Epstein's death. That fallout has included the arrests of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, identified in reporting as the brother of King Charles, and Peter Mandelson, described as the former British ambassador to the U.S.
British police are already probing a range of allegations linked to Epstein. The investigations cover possible offences reported to authorities, with potential charges spanning child sex abuse, trafficking of women through UK airports and misconduct in public office, according to Davies-Jones' account of current inquiries.
Davies-Jones also said that, if a public inquiry is launched, it could examine the alleged conduct of other prominent figures. She specifically mentioned the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed, who has been accused by hundreds of victims of rape and sexual assault, as someone whose actions might be within the scope of a formal inquiry.
At this stage, officials are assessing what steps are achievable and appropriate. The government has not announced a formal inquiry process or confirmed a timetable for any such action, and police investigations remain ongoing. The minister’s comments indicate that discussions within government are active and that meetings with alleged victims are being arranged as part of consideration of next steps.
Summary: The prime minister is exploring a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's UK ties and will meet alleged victims; police investigations and recent high-profile arrests have heightened scrutiny. Any inquiry could also review allegations against other public figures, including Mohamed al-Fayed.