York Central MP Rachael Maskell said Parliament should create a mechanism to allow the monarch to remove honours, including peerages, amid a row over Prince Andrew’s titles
Keir Starmer is facing calls to change the law to formally strip Prince Andrew of his titles.
The Prince gave up his Duke of York title, his knighthood and his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter on Friday amid escalating controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
But the royal, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, retains his dukedom, which can only be removed by an act of Parliament.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell said MPs should create a mechanism to allow the monarch to remove honours, including peerages. She has previously brought forward a private members bill on this subject.
Ms Maskell, who sits as an independent MP, told Today: “It’s a single clause bill which I’m proposing, so it wouldn’t take up time, but it would make a real difference should these occurrences arise.
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“And of course, any associations with individuals as apparent as somebody like Epstein could then be addressed in such a way.
“So I really do trust that Parliament will take this seriously and recognise there are opportunities here to address the wrongs of history and to ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are really heard and acted upon.”
The existing law, the Titles Deprivation Act from 1917, was specifically designed to strip peerages and royal titles from those who served with the enemy in the First World War.
Ms Maskell went on: “I do think it is for Parliament to act. I presume the technicalities of that would be that there would have to be a conversation between the Palace and Parliament to indicate that the King was willing to assume those powers.
“But of course, Parliament could press forward with action and legislation if it so chose. And I think we need to find a mechanism in order to achieve that. The private members’ route would be one such measure.”
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose life was destroyed, are angry and aghast, the public across these isles are angry and aghast, and they both deserve to know that some MPs share their outrage.
“So I won’t sit silent – if an act of Parliament is required to strip the likes of Peter Mandelson and Prince Andrew of their titles, then there can be no justification from this Labour Government as to why that is not immediately happening.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said ministers supported the decision for Prince Andrew to give up his titles but stripping him of his right to be a prince “isn’t a matter for the Government”.
She said: “Our thoughts have to be with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, those who suffered and continue to suffer because of the abuse that they experienced at his hands, but these are matters for the royal family.”
Ms Phillipson added: “We would be guided by the royal family in this and I imagine the royal family would want Parliament to continue to dedicate our time to our wider legislative programme, but we will be guided by the monarch.
“It’s why we do support the statement that was issued and the action that has been taken. But of course, Prince Andrew holds the title of Prince because he is the son of a monarch, and that’s the situation that we have.”
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