PM's office backs Prince Andrew
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2011, Tuesday
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PRINCE Andrew is making "a major contribution" as the United Kingdom's trade envoy and that role is not changing, Prime Minister David Cameron's office said yesterday - despite questions about the prince's friendship with a convicted US sex offender.
The comments from Cameron's office appeared at odds with an earlier statement from Business Secretary Vincent Cable, who said there would be conversations about Andrew's future role.
Andrew has come under fire because of his friendship with American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who has been convicted of sex offenses.
A report in The Daily Telegraph yesterday said Epstein had recently advanced cash to help Andrew's former wife Sarah sort out her serious financial problems.
Newspapers have published photographs of Andrew with his arm around a young woman who now claims to be one of Epstein's underage victims, but there has been no suggestion that Andrew has been involved in inappropriate relationships with underage women.
Asked whether Cameron had full confidence in the prince, spokesman Steve Field said "yes."
"The prime minister thinks he is doing an important job and is making a major contribution and he is supportive of him in that role," Field said. "We are not reviewing that role in any way."
Earlier, Cable had told the British Broadcasting Corp that "obviously there are conversations that will take place with him (Andrew) about what he is to do in future."
"That is simply a matter of managing the relationship," Cable said, adding that in any case, Andrew could not be dismissed because he is a volunteer, not a government employee.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said he has "full confidence" in Andrew's work but added in a BBC interview he had not looked into the allegations.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to two prostitution offenses in Florida, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a further year under house arrest. Prosecutors said Epstein paid several girls younger than 18 for naked massages that sometimes became sexual encounters.
The comments from Cameron's office appeared at odds with an earlier statement from Business Secretary Vincent Cable, who said there would be conversations about Andrew's future role.
Andrew has come under fire because of his friendship with American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who has been convicted of sex offenses.
A report in The Daily Telegraph yesterday said Epstein had recently advanced cash to help Andrew's former wife Sarah sort out her serious financial problems.
Newspapers have published photographs of Andrew with his arm around a young woman who now claims to be one of Epstein's underage victims, but there has been no suggestion that Andrew has been involved in inappropriate relationships with underage women.
Asked whether Cameron had full confidence in the prince, spokesman Steve Field said "yes."
"The prime minister thinks he is doing an important job and is making a major contribution and he is supportive of him in that role," Field said. "We are not reviewing that role in any way."
Earlier, Cable had told the British Broadcasting Corp that "obviously there are conversations that will take place with him (Andrew) about what he is to do in future."
"That is simply a matter of managing the relationship," Cable said, adding that in any case, Andrew could not be dismissed because he is a volunteer, not a government employee.
Foreign Secretary William Hague has said he has "full confidence" in Andrew's work but added in a BBC interview he had not looked into the allegations.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to two prostitution offenses in Florida, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a further year under house arrest. Prosecutors said Epstein paid several girls younger than 18 for naked massages that sometimes became sexual encounters.
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