Searches at a Berkshire address relating to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office took place over six days
Police have issued a major update after six days of searches at the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The operation at the Royal Lodge, in Windsor, relating to the arrest of Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office has now ended, Thames Valley Police said this evening.
Andrew was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, spending 11 hours in custody on his 66th birthday, after allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to convicted sex offender Epstein.
Meanwhile, ministers have agreed to release files related to the appointment of Andrew to the trade envoy role, but MPs have been told the Government is unable to publish material that police need for their inquiries until officers are “satisfied”.
Andrew’s arrest came days before Lord Peter Mandelson was also arrested following similar allegations of passing sensitive information to Epstein, during his time as business secretary. The former Labour minister was released on bail in the early hours of Tuesday, after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
In the Commons, trade minister Sir Chris Bryant described Andrew as “a man on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle” and “a rude, arrogant and entitled man who could not distinguish between the public interest, which he said he served, and his own private interest”.
Sir Chris backed Liberal Democrat-led calls to publish the papers on Andrew’s role, including any vetting and any correspondence from Lord Mandelson.
The party used a humble address, the same arcane mechanism the Tories used to press for the release of files on Lord Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, to pressure the Government.
Opening the debate, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Can there be many people more symbolic of the rot that eats away at the British establishment than the former Duke of York and special trade envoy, and the former business secretary, first secretary of state and ambassador to the United States?
“Their association with Epstein and their actions on his behalf, while trusted with the privilege of public office, are a stain on our country. We must begin to clean away that stain with the disinfectant of transparency.”
Alex Burghart, the Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister, said his party welcomed the motion, but criticised the Government for not disclosing the information without the need for a humble address.
“What would have been better is if the Government had been proactive on this and had not had to be brought to the House by opposition parties in order to release this information,” he said.
Meanwhile the Commons Business and Trade Committee said it would begin gathering information ahead of a potential inquiry into the trade envoy system, but a final decision would not be taken until after any case against Andrew had concluded.
