British politicans are saying Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, should lose his position as trade ambassador of the United Kingdom because of his friendship with Saif Gadhafi. With Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi increasingly being shunned on the world stage, Andrew’s ties to the Gaddafi family has come under fire.
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“Isn’t it increasingly difficult to explain the behaviour of the UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) special ambassador for trade, who is not only a very close friend of Saif Gaddafi, but is also a close friend of the convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni” said Christopher Bryant, a former Foreign Office minister, on the floor of the Commons.
“Isn’t it time we dispensed with the services of the Duke of York?” he added.
In response, Prime Minister David Cameron said, “I’m not aware of the particular connections he [Mr Bryant] chooses to make. I’m very happy to look into them.”
After this, Speaker John Bercow intervened, telling MPs: “References to members of the Royal Family should be very rare, very sparing and very respectful.”
Prince Andrew’s role as trade ambassador has been controversial, mainly because of the company he keeps. He was recently pictured in New York’s Central Park with billionaire friend Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted child-sex offender who was sentenced to 18 months for soliciting minor girls.
Outside the Commons, a spokesman for anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, Graham Smith, said: “The charge sheet against Prince Andrew is getting longer by the day. His relationships with the Gaddafi family and other characters with questionable reputations have made his position untenable.”
The Prince does not get paid for being a trade ambassador, but does get expenses and travel costs covered, in the thousands of pounds each year.
Sources: BBC, Press Association
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