London: British government may be in the process of reviewing the role and responsibilities of Duke of York, Prince Andrew as UK`s trade ambassador, amid a row over
his alleged links to a person accused of child sex offences,
the media reported on Monday.
UK`s Business Secretary Vince Cable appeared to
confirm that the Duke`s role and responsibilities were under
review as he declined to give the Royal his firm backing in a
radio interview today, the Daily Telegraph said.
"He is a volunteer, he has offered to perform these
roles, and I think it is down to him essentially to judge the
position he wants to be in," the Business Secretary told the
BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
"Obviously there are conversations that will take
place with him about what he is to do in future. That is
simply a matter of managing the relationship," Cable said.
Chris Bryant, the Labour former Foreign Office
Minister, repeated his calls for the Duke to be relieved of
his duties.
"I think we should be dispensing with his services. I
think the charge list now against him is so long that he is a
bit of an embarrassment," Bryant was quoted as saying by the
BBC.
Whitehall sources have conceded that the Duke could
still be forced out altogether if there are further damaging
disclosures about his personal affairs.
Pressure on the Duke increased when it was established
that Jeffrey Epstein, who recently served 18 months in jail
for child sex offences, paid off debts owed by Sarah, the
Duchess of York, after an alleged intervention from her former
husband.
Epstein, who played host to the Duke at his Florida
home, a mansion where under age girls were sexually abused,
gave 15,000 pounds to the Duchess` former personal assistant
after the Duke allegedly approached him for help last
December.
According to the report, there is no suggestion the
Duke had any sexual contact during his visit to Epstein`s
mansion.
PTI
