Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to allow Members of Parliament to discuss Prince Andrew in the House of Commons.
Downing Street has stated that the Government currently has no plans to schedule a debate on the royal scandal within the Commons.
This decision follows Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s acknowledgment that the matter could be deliberated in the chamber. However, parliamentary regulations prevent him from assigning time specifically for discussing the royal family.
Labour MP Clive Lewis has urged the Prime Minister to permit a debate on the issue, emphasizing that the government’s reluctance indicates a power imbalance. He stressed the importance of MPs being able to scrutinize aspects such as the royals’ tax benefits and land ownership in a democratic setting.
Recent revelations revealed that Prince Andrew has resided at Royal Lodge in Windsor for a nominal fee since 2003. The House of Commons can only address Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his rent-free accommodation if a formal motion is presented, yet the Government controls the majority of parliamentary time.
Ministers have privately called for Prince Andrew to vacate the Windsor Estate, accusing him of dishonorable conduct and exploiting state resources.
The Commons’ expenditure oversight body has committed to examining the lease arrangements for the mansion. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, intends to raise inquiries with the Crown Estate and the Treasury.
Number 10 has clarified that Members of Parliament will not be granted time to discuss Prince Andrew’s actions in the House of Commons, as the royal family prefers parliamentary focus on pressing national matters.
Reflecting on the limitations imposed by parliamentary regulations, Labour peer Lord Foulkes highlighted the need for urgent modernization to enable effective scrutiny of the Monarchy and Royal Family by Parliament.
As outlined in Erskine May, the official parliamentary procedural guide, criticism of the royal family is only permissible within the context of a substantive motion.
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