Andy Burnham is "looking into" the possibility of holding a public enquiry into the UK activities of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to victims minister Alex Davies-Jones. Speaking to night, Davies-Jones said the prime minister had agreed to meet Epstein's victims, and that the government is also reviewing whether the alleged actions of former Harrod's owner Mohamed Al Fayed could be included in any enquiry.
Davies-Jones resigned from former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government in May, later accusing his government of failing to listen to Epstein's survivors. She was reappointed as victims minister when Burnham took office. Speaking on the programme, she said she had discussed holding a public enquiry into the alleged behaviour of Epstein and Al Fayed with the prime minister and cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo during her re-appointment.
Asked whether an enquiry was now possible, Davies-Jones said:
"We are looking at this, we are reviewing what is possible. Again, same with Harrods survivors."
She added:
"I have been assured that the prime minister is taking this very seriously.
He will meet with those victims and he is looking at what is possible, now he has access to all of the information as prime minister to see what action we can take."
After resigning in May, Davies-Jones told the Commons in June that people whose lives were devastated by Epstein's abuse have too often been reduced to a footnote. Asked what assurances or guarantees she had asked from Burnham in relation to the survivors when he re-appointed her to government, the minister said:
"I did have those discussions with the prime minister before he became the prime minister."
She continued:
"He agreed to meet with the Epstein victims,"
adding that Burnham
"has assured me that he will meet them now he's prime minister and will work with us to look at systemic change across the system for all victims."
night understands that as Burnham was finalising plans to become prime minister, he was sent a document by leading Labour campaigners on Violence Against Women and Girls. It contained a key suggestion: to hold a full public enquiry into the UK activities of Epstein, the alleged behaviour of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed and into allegations in a BBC Panorama and Times investigation that West Ham co-owner David Sullivan preyed on women.
David Sullivan has described the claims as false. He said he was:
"absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as".
The document called for an "impunity" enquiry to ask how powerful men were able to carry out the alleged behaviour. On Epstein, the document calls for a focus on UK borders, asking how he was able to fly in and out of UK military bases on his private jet, often with allegedly trafficked women. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown highlighted this issue in February.
Davies-Jones is understood to be familiar with the Labour document.
Anouska di Georgiou, an Epstein survivor, told night:
"I welcome reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering public inquiries into the Epstein and Maxwell, Harrods/Mohamed Al-Fayed, and David Sullivan cases."
"Survivors have heard promises before, so what matters now is action, not headlines."
How did this discussion come about?
The discussion emerged as Burnham was finalising plans to become prime minister and was receiving advice from Labour campaigners on Violence Against Women and Girls. The document they sent pressed for a public enquiry into Epstein, Mohamed Al Fayed and David Sullivan, and argued for an "impunity" enquiry into how powerful men were able to carry out the alleged behaviour.
The proposal on Epstein specifically called for scrutiny of UK borders and asked how he was able to fly in and out of UK military bases on his private jet, often with allegedly trafficked women. Gordon Brown had previously raised that same issue in February.
What has the government said about survivors?
Davies-Jones said Burnham has agreed to meet Epstein's victims and is looking at possible next steps now he has access to all relevant information as prime minister. She said she had discussed the issue with Burnham and Dame Antonia Romeo during her re-appointment, and that Burnham would work with the government on systemic change across the system for all victims.
She also said the government is reviewing whether the alleged actions of Mohamed Al Fayed could be part of the same enquiry, saying the same approach is being considered for Harrods survivors.
What do the survivors want now?
Anouska di Georgio said survivors welcome the possibility of public inquiries, but want concrete action. She said promises have been made before, and that what matters now is "action, not headlines."
Key Facts
- Alex Davies-Jones said Andy Burnham is "looking into" a public enquiry into Jeffrey Epstein's UK activities.
- The government is reviewing whether allegations involving Mohamed Al Fayed could also be included.
- Burnham has agreed to meet Epstein's victims, according to Davies-Jones.
- A Labour document also suggested examining allegations involving West Ham co-owner David Sullivan.
- David Sullivan has denied the claims, saying he is "absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as".
