More Prince Andrew revelations 'could end trade role' Skip to main content

More Prince Andrew revelations 'could end trade role'

Prince Andrew Prince Andrew has been in the role since 2001

Related Stories

Downing Street sources have made it clear Prince Andrew may not survive as a UK trade envoy if there are more damaging revelations about him.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Duke of York would have to judge his own position, although there would be "conversations" about his future role.
The prince has been criticised over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier.
Ministers have defended the prince's work, adding it is regularly reviewed.
"I think we need to remember he is doing this as a volunteer, he is not a government appointee, he is not somebody who is appointed and sacked," Mr Cable told the BBC.
"The assessment of the businesses I have seen that have worked with him is that he has been supportive and helpful.
"I think it is down to him to judge the position he wants to be in. Obviously there are conversations which will take place with him about what he's to do in future."

Start Quote

I am afraid he has now just become a national embarrassment”
End Quote Chris Bryant Labour MP
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said a Downing Street source had conceded one more serious story could make the prince's role untenable.
Our correspondent added that the prince was currently continuing in his job, but that the position was already reviewed on a regular basis.
One review took place last Tuesday when Prince Andrew met Sir Jon Cunliffe, the prime minister's chief adviser on Europe and overseas business.
The Downing Street source described the recent flurry of stories surrounding the Duke of York as the media trying to create "guilt by association" but added that one more serious story could change the situation overnight.
"It's unlikely the government would actually sack Prince Andrew but may choose in the long run gradually to downgrade his activities, avoiding a damaging and embarrassing row between ministers and the Royal Family," added our correspondent.

Analysis

In public the cabinet has been supportive of Prince Andrew, paying tribute to the "valuable contribution" he has made to the British economy.
Business Secretary Vince Cable says he would not even have the power to fire the prince because he is a volunteer.
But behind the scenes, sources have briefed the papers that the role might be "downgraded" following one of the regular six-monthly reviews of how the job works.
And we are told that Prince Andrew met one of the prime minister's business advisers last week.
And therein lies the story: why is there a difference?
It is probably because the relationship between politicians and royals is a tricky, delicate dance where neither partner can step on the toes of the other in public.
A cabinet minister calling for the brother of the future king to stand down would be considered a step too far.
Meanwhile Labour MP and former Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant has reiterated his view that Andrew should no longer be used as a UK trade ambassador.
"I am sure there are some countries in the world where having a visiting royal makes a difference, it makes it possible to have some meetings which wouldn't otherwise be possible," he told BBC Breakfast.
"But I am afraid he has now just become a national embarrassment. My worry is that, sometimes when he goes on these trips, I am not sure whether he is helping us out or he is just helping himself."
He added: "The truth is we shouldn't be using him for these delegations any more."
But royal historian Hugo Vickers said there had been "rather irresponsible" harassment of Andrew by the press.
"I actually really disapprove very strongly of people being hounded out of a job, if he is doing a good job, by this sort of press coverage," he said.
"I think if you actually examine the facts very carefully you will find that a lot of mud has been slung at him, some of it perhaps should have been, but... an awful lot of it shouldn't."
Foreign Secretary William Hague has also defended the prince's work.
On Sunday he said Prince Andrew has done "a lot of good for the UK" in his role as trade ambassador.
Mr Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Prince Andrew has been the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment since 2001, with the job of promoting Britain's business interests around the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12662458

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in Moulmein. Supposedly the first Burmese-language newspaper, it continued up until the first year of the second Angl

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do

Is 160 enough? One Indian man's family

By Sumnima Udas , CNN October 31, 2011 -- Updated 0857 GMT (1657 HKT) Ziona, center, with his has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren in rural Baktwang village, India. STORY HIGHLIGHTS One man in India is the patriarch of a family of 160 in rural India Ziona, who only goes by his first name, has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren. Ziona's father, Chana, founded the Christian sect in Baktwang that promotes polygamy "I never wanted to get married but that's the path God has chosen for me" Mizoram, India (CNN) -- The world's population hits 7 billion this week, but Ziona, the patriarch of what may be the biggest family in the world, is not bothered. "I don't care about overpopulation in India ... I believe God has chosen us to be like this (have big families). Those who are born into this family don't want to leave this tradition so we just keep growing and growing," he says with a smile. Ziona, who only goes by his f