Boris Johnson’s defence of the royal family following the Prince Andrew scandal is ‘unforgivable’, says Labour’s Dawn Butler.
The Prime Minister sparked outrage after saying the monarchy is “beyond reproach” during last night’s ITV debate with Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Johnson was asked during the debate if the Duke of York was “fit for purpose”.
He said “the law must take its course” after Prince Andrew failed to show remorse for his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein during a disastrous Newsnight interview last weekend.
However, he did defend the monarchy saying the institution is “beyond reproach”.
Speaking about Johnson’s remarks earlier today, Shadow women and equalities secretary Dawn Butler described them as “unforgivable”.
(Image: Getty Images)
Ms Butler told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think most people would think that there is always room for improvement, and I think that Boris’ response in regards to the royal family being beyond reproach was just flabbergasting with everything that is currently being exposed in regards to Prince Andrew and the scandal and the paedophile.
“To actually not talk about the victims, which Jeremy did right straight away and saying that we should be focusing on the victims, but then to say that the royal family is beyond reproach is unforgivable.”
Labour leader Corbyn also said, when asked the same question, there was “room for improvement” within the Royal Family.
Ms Butler added: “And it just stinks of this kind of, the law doesn’t apply to a certain group of people in society. And I just think it’s horrendous.”
(Image: Jonathan Hordle/REX)
Butler’s comments come as Prince Andrew’s role with the royal family has come up for debate after he refused to express regret over his friendship with Epstein or show sympathy for the victims.
Prince Andrew has faced questions over his judgement in maintaining a friendship with the disgraced billionaire, who was found dead by apparent suicide in his cell in New York in August.
Epstein – who was found dead in his cell this year – was awaiting trial over sex trafficking charges.
Video Unavailable
In 2010, the prince was photographed walking with Epstein in New York’s Central Park – two years after Epstein’s earlier first conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
BBC viewers reacted with disbelief to Prince Andrew’s description of Epstein’s behaviour as “unbecoming” and the use of his New York flat as convenient as he denied ever meeting 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.
The Duke also insisted he could not have had sex with Roberts because he was at Pizza Express in Woking on the supposed night, and besides her claims of a sweaty dance were untrue because he was medically unable to sweat.
