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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to hold public inquiry, investigating Jeffrey Epstein cases

United Kingdom’s newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham will reportedly hold a public ​inquiry into the actions of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the UK, nearly ​seven years after his death, according to victims minister Alex Davies-Jones.

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Speaking to the BBC, Jones revealed that the Prime Minister had agreed to meet Epstein's victims, which would follow the inquiry.

The Epstein scandal emerged after the US department of justice began releasing the official Jeffrey Epstein files in December, 2025, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Later, a massive batch of roughly three million additional pages, images, and videos was made publicly accessible in January 2026.

The scandal rocked the British establishment, leading to the arrest of prominent personalities, such as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, King ​Charles' brother, and Peter Mandelson, the former ​British ambassador to the US.

Additionally, the Peter Mandelson controversy was one of the main reasons for the resignation of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Especially when his link with Epstein was known before his appointment as an ambassador to the US in December 2024.

According to Reuters, the British police are investigating multiple allegations related to Epstein, possibly ​ranging from child sex abuse to women trafficking.

"Survivors have heard promises before, so what matters now is action, not headlines”, said Anouska di Georgiou, an Epstein survivor, to the BBC.

"We are looking into this. We are ⁠what is possible", said Jones, who was reappointed as victims minister upon Burnham’s takeover.

In May, Jones had resigned from the same position, later accusing Starmer's government of failing to listen to Epstein's survivors.

She mentioned having discussions with Burnham on the issue before he became the Prime Minister, saying the now-PM would work for delivering justice to Epstein’s victims.

Additionally, Jones said any public inquiry ​could ⁠also examine the alleged actions of Mohamed al-Fayed, the late Egyptian billionaire accused ​of rape and sexual assault by victims, reportedly numbering in the hundreds.

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