Labour prefer to dodge Prince Andrew scandal despite growing disquiet

"The shocking new allegations about the extent of Prince Andrew's connections with Jeffery Epstein have dominated front pages and airwaves but there is one powerful institution which is effectively barred from discussing it parliament. There is growing disquiet among MPs about strict guidance that means the disgraced royal cannot be the subject of any parliamentary debate including whether he can be formally stripped of his titles."

"No 10 has no appetite to take any proactive action to formally strip Andrew of his titles. I cannot think of anything less which I'd like us to be embroiled in, one government source said. There is no indication that the palace will ask MPs to formally revoke Prince Andrew's title as Duke of York which the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said would be a poor use of parliament's time."

"There may be a small loophole for MPs to ask about the funding of royal residences Andrew still has use of the 30-room Royal Lodge, which is owned by the crown estate and for which he has a private tenancy agreement but any debate is very likely to be tightly restrained. Neither the Speaker's Office or the House of Commons will go on the record to even explain its conventions about debates concerning the royals."

Parliamentary convention and guidance largely bar MPs from debating Prince Andrew, even over stripping his titles. Some MPs, including Stephen Flynn and Rachael Maskell, have pushed for government-led motions or legislation, but individual MPs face sanctions if they raise the matter. A limited route exists to question funding of royal residences; Andrew continues to use the 30-room Royal Lodge under a private tenancy. The Speaker's Office and the Commons will not publicly explain conventions on royal debates. No 10 and the palace show little appetite to pursue formal revocation, and ministers have described such action as a poor use of parliamentary time. Keir Starmer's spokesperson said the matter is ultimately for parliament.

Read at www.theguardian.com