Andy Burnham is not actively considering a public inquiry into the actions of disgraced convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein on UK soil, despite two ministers saying the government is “looking into” it.
Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said the new prime minister is taking the issue “very seriously”, as she told BBC Newsnight that he has agreed to meet with Epstein’s victims, and is “looking into” a possible inquiry.
Justice minister Jake Richards then said on Wednesday morning that it was “right that we look into what we can do” and that Mr Burnham “will look into it”.
But it is now understood that a public inquiry is not being actively considered by No 10.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson that while it is Mr Burnham is committed to meeting with victims and it is “reviewing what is possible and will look at all options to support victims and survivors”, a public inquiry is not being actively considered”.
Ms Davies-Jones resigned as justice minister in May, noting a lack of “bold, radical action” under former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, but returned to the role when Mr Burnham took office.
She told the BBC that, before joining Mr Burnham’s government, she had “received assurances” that he would put victims first.
“I was having multiple conversations with him and his team,” Ms Davies-Jones said.
“He agreed to meet with the Epstein victims. He was in close contact with them throughout that period where he was becoming prime minister, and he 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, whether that be the Epstein victims, Harrods survivors, grooming gangs victims.”
A potential inquiry into claims against Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods who died in 2023, is also under review.
More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Al Fayed, dating from 1977 and 2014.
They include sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
The Met Police are speaking to at least 156 victims who contacted them directly, including 21 who came forward before Al Fayed’s death at the age of 94.
Asked if a public inquiry was on the table, Ms Davies-Jones said: “We are looking into this, we are reviewing what is possible… same with Harrods survivors.
“We already have a now statutory inquiry underway for the grooming gangs victims. 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.”
She continued: “What more can we do to truly make sure that our criminal justice system is taking victims seriously, that they can rebuild that faith and trust in the system again?
“And I have had assurances from the prime minister that he’s willing to do that and make that happen.”
Justice minister Jake Richards confirmed the potential inquiry on Wednesday, telling Sky News: “Well, I know that Alex and the victims minister had discussions with the prime minister about it.
“It's right that we look into what we can do... No stone should be left unturned when we consider these horrific crimes that seem to have happened at huge scale. The prime minister will look into it.
“He'll take his time, no doubt, to think about the best route for victims, but also to crucially ensure lessons are learned, to make sure that these sorts of things never happen again.”
Jess Phillips, the former minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, who resigned from Keir Starmer’s government accusing him of failing to take bold action, told The Independent she wanted to see an inquiry, saying: “There is a level of impunity that appears to have been afforded to some men with money and power where parts of the British state were used to enable mass trafficking and abuse of young women and girls. The victims deserve answers.”
Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips told the BBC she hoped a meeting with Mr Burnham would mark “the beginning of a new chapter, one where survivors are heard, lessons are learned, institutions are held accountable where appropriate, and lasting reforms help protect future generations”.
The BBC reports leading Labour campaigners on Violence Against Women and Girls have sent Mr Burnham a document calling for an “impunity” inquiry investigating the UK activities of Epstein, the alleged behaviour of Al Fayed and allegations of sexual misconduct against West Ham co-owner David Sullivan.
Mr Sullivan was accused of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour by seven women during a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and The Times into the 77-year-old businessman.
Mr Sullivan – West Ham’s largest shareholder – stood down as joint chair of the club shortly before the investigation was broadcast in June, saying he wanted to focus on fighting what he called “factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life”.
The document reportedly calls for the scope of any Epstein inquiry to focus on UK borders and question how he was able to fly in and out of UK military bases on his private jet – often with women who had allegedly been trafficked.
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