Government denies active consideration of Epstein and Al-Fayed inquiry
The government has denied that it is actively considering a public inquiry into the UK activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Mohamed Al-Fayed, contradicting an earlier statement by a minister.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The government has denied that it is actively considering a public inquiry into the UK activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Mohamed Al-Fayed, contradicting earlier statements from ministers. The denial came from the Ministry of Justice, with the full authority of Downing Street, and was reported on Tuesday evening after a day of mixed signals.
The confusion began when Alex Davies-Jones, the victims minister, told BBC Two's Newsnight that Prime Minister Andy Burnham was "looking into the possibility" of holding a public inquiry into the two men. She said she had been assured the prime minister was taking the matter seriously and would meet survivors of abuse. "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," she said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Minister Jake Richards told Sky News that the government would "look into" the scandal, saying "no stone should be left unturned." But by the evening, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement saying a public inquiry was "not being actively considered." This directly contradicted the impression given by both ministers.
Sky News reported that Alex Davies-Jones is now seeking an urgent meeting with Louise Haigh, the First Secretary of State, to discuss the possibility of a joint inquiry into Epstein and Al-Fayed. The prime minister has committed to meeting survivors, but no formal commitment to an inquiry has been made.
The story has a political backdrop. Alex Davies-Jones resigned as victims minister under Keir Starmer in May, citing a loss of faith in the then government. She was reappointed by Andy Burnham after he became prime minister. She has been a vocal advocate for Epstein survivors and has previously called for a public inquiry. She told Newsnight she had discussed the issue with the prime minister and the cabinet secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, before taking the job again.
Campaigners from the Labour Party are reported to have sent a plan to Andy Burnham calling for an "impunity inquiry" into how powerful men like Epstein and Al-Fayed were able to operate. The plan reportedly asks for a focus on how Epstein was able to fly in and out of UK military bases on his private jet, often with allegedly trafficked women.
The government's denial has raised questions about internal coordination. Political editor Nick, speaking on Newsnight, suggested there may be "teething problems" in the new Number 10, and that the prime minister's empathy for victims may be colliding with the practical realities of launching a costly and complex inquiry. Helen McNamara, a former cabinet secretary, said she believed the mixed messages were likely "teething issues" rather than anything sinister.
Survivors of abuse by Epstein and Al-Fayed have welcomed the prime minister's willingness to meet them, but they are waiting for a clear commitment on an inquiry. The government has said it is reviewing what is possible, but for now, the official position is that no active consideration is being given to a public inquiry.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Burnham is considering a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein and Mohamed Al-Fayed, has agreed to meet survivors, and received a plan with five proposals addressing violence against women and girls. | ||||
| Campaigners want the inquiry to focus on Epstein's use of UK military bases. | · | |||
| The government has not committed to a public inquiry into the Epstein scandal but said it will look into the matter. | · | · | ||
| Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones is seeking an urgent meeting to discuss a joint inquiry into Epstein and Mohamed Al-Fayed. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC Two's Newsnight led with an exclusive interview with victims minister Alex Davies-Jones, who said the prime minister was looking into a public inquiry. The channel later reported the government's denial, framing it as a contradiction and exploring possible reasons, including teething problems in the new Number 10 and the practical challenges of an inquiry.
- “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.”
- “We are looking into this, we are reviewing what is possible.”
- “a public inquiry is not being actively considered”
BBC News reported the initial claim from the victims minister, focusing on the prime minister's willingness to meet survivors and the campaigners' request for an inquiry into Epstein's use of UK military bases. It did not mention the later denial, suggesting this was an earlier bulletin.
- “The victim's minister, Alex Davies-Jones, has told BBC's Newsnight that Andy Burnham is seriously considering holding a public inquiry into the activities of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the UK.”
- “She also said the prime minister would be willing to meet victims of Epstein.”
Sky News highlighted the confusion over the government's position, reporting both the justice minister's earlier promise to 'look into' the scandal and the later denial from Number 10. It also revealed that the victims minister is seeking an urgent meeting with the First Secretary of State, adding a sense of ongoing political pressure.
- “The Prime Minister has committed to meeting victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.”
- “Earlier, the Justice Minister, Jake Richards, told Sky News the government will look into the scandal.”
- “But then, this morning, we heard that number 10 aren't actively considering it.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.