Victims of Jeffrey Epstein are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to initiate a public inquiry into Epstein’s connections with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Members of the UK Epstein Survivors Campaign, representing nearly a dozen survivors including prominent campaigner Lisa Phillips, plan to meet with Burnham in the coming months to press for “truth and justice” concerning Epstein’s ties to the British establishment.
The campaign group cited documents recently released by the US Department of Justice that raise significant questions about Epstein’s relationships with figures in the UK, including Mountbatten-Windsor and former Labour Party politician Peter Mandelson. Both Mountbatten-Windsor and Mandelson were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations they leaked sensitive information to Epstein and others. They have denied the allegations and were released pending further investigation.
Lord Mandelson has acknowledged maintaining contact with Epstein “for far too long” but denies any knowledge of wrongdoing or criminal activity. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied all accusations linked to Epstein, including allegations of sexual abuse made by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of assault when she was 17. Buckingham Palace reportedly paid Giuffre £12 million in 2022 to settle a New York federal lawsuit she filed against Mountbatten-Windsor, though the details remain confidential. Giuffre died by suicide last year.
Thames Valley Police have indicated a possible expansion of their investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor to include allegations of sexual misconduct if new evidence emerges. They have coordinated with the Metropolitan Police and sought access to files regarding Giuffre, who was interviewed by the Met in 2015. At that time, police did not pursue a full investigation, citing no criminal allegations against British nationals. However, authorities in the UK continue to press US officials for unredacted material from the Epstein case to advance their inquiries—a request reportedly stalled in recent months.
The Epstein Survivors Campaign has called for a comprehensive national inquiry to examine whether individuals in positions of authority in Britain knowingly enabled or failed to stop Epstein’s sexual abuse and trafficking network. The group urged government officials to clarify unanswered questions surrounding the nature of financial settlements connected to the case and to provide full transparency to the public.
While reports emerged last week suggesting that Prime Minister Burnham planned to approve a formal UK inquiry into Epstein, Downing Street subsequently denied this. Burnham is nonetheless scheduled to meet with Epstein survivors soon. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also agreed to meet with victims.
The campaign expressed optimism about these engagements, emphasizing a belief that the current political leadership could deliver long-awaited truth, accountability, and justice to survivors. Calls for a UK-wide inquiry have received support across political parties, with multiple lawmakers indicating their backing. A Downing Street spokesperson acknowledged the suffering endured by survivors and underscored the importance of listening to their stories.