UK victims of Jeffrey Epstein demand public probe into financier's links to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

UK victims of Jeffrey Epstein demand public probe into financier's links to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor The UK Epstein Survivors Campaign will lobby the Prime Minister for "truth and justice" in a meeting scheduled for the coming months UK victims of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have called for Andy Burnham to launch a public inquiry into the shamed financier's links to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Members of the UK Epstein Survivors Campaign will lobby the Prime Minister for "truth and justice" in a meeting scheduled for the coming months. The organisation, which represents nearly a dozen survivors, including the prominent campaigner Lisa Phillips, said the Epstein files published by the US justice department raised "serious questions that cannot simply be ignored". It said a national inquiry should look into Epstein's links to the British establishment. In a statement shared with The Sunday Telegraph, the survivors said: "Records and correspondence concerning Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - including reported discussions involving money, finances and their relationships with Epstein - demonstrate precisely why the public deserves complete transparency." Both Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson were arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations that they leaked sensitive information to Epstein and others. Both denied the claims and were released under investigation. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Lord Mandelson has admitted they continued to associate for "far too long", but has said he never saw any evidence of wrongdoing or criminality. Thames Valley Police later suggested it would widen the scope of its investigation into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to include allegations of sexual misconduct, should people come forward. Detectives from the force also contacted the Met Police to obtain files on Virginia Giuffre. The Met interviewed Ms Giuffre in July 2015 after she accused Epstein of trafficking her for sexual exploitation, but did not launch a full-blown investigation, saying there was no allegation of criminal conduct against any British nationals. The UK Epstein Survivors Campaign said an inquiry should also investigate whether individuals in positions of power in Britain "enabled, facilitated or failed to stop Epstein's global sexual abuse and trafficking network". They urged officials to answer questions over the exact funding details of the settlement paid to Ms Giuffre after she accused Mr Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse when she was 17. He denies the claims. It is understood Ms Giuffre, who took her own life last year, was given a £12m payment in 2022 to end a New York federal lawsuit she filed against him alleging sexual abuse, but the exact financial terms were not disclosed. No 10 last week denied reports suggesting Mr Burnham was set to approve a British inquiry into Epstein. A spokesman for the UK Epstein Survivors Campaign said the group was "delighted" about an upcoming meeting. They said: "If there has ever been an opportunity to finally secure the truth and justice that survivors have been denied for so long, we believe that opportunity exists now under Prime Minister Andy Burnham." They added: "We sincerely hope his leadership can help deliver what survivors have waited far too long for: truth, accountability and justice." Calls for a UK inquiry have received cross-party support. A Downing Street spokesman said: "These women were subjected to appalling crimes and then left to carry them largely alone. They deserve to be listened to." British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced in the US in June 2022 to 20 years in prison following her conviction on five counts of sex trafficking for luring young girls to massage rooms for Epstein to abuse. She has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Epstein, 66, was found dead in his cell at a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.