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Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones has revealed that Andy Burnham is exploring the possibility of launching a public inquiry into the activities in the UK of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Davies-Jones confirmed that Burnham had agreed to meet with Epstein’s survivors to discuss their concerns. Alongside this, the government is also assessing whether the alleged conduct of Mohamed Al Fayed, former owner of Harrods, should be included in any such inquiry.
Davies-Jones previously resigned from the government under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in May, citing a failure to listen to Epstein’s survivors. However, with Burnham’s rise to prime minister, she was reinstated as victims minister. During the interview, she explained that discussions about a public inquiry involving Epstein’s and Al Fayed’s alleged behaviour had already taken place with both Burnham and the cabinet secretary, Dame Antonia Romeo, during her re-appointment. When asked about the feasibility of an inquiry, Davies-Jones said the matter was under active review, including the concerns of Harrods survivors.
The victims minister also stressed that the prime minister is taking the situation seriously, highlighting his commitment to engage directly with the victims. “He will meet with those victims and he is looking at what is possible,” Davies-Jones said, emphasizing that Burnham now has full access to the relevant information to consider appropriate action. Following her resignation, she had spoken in Parliament in June about the devastating impact Epstein’s abuse has had, noting that survivors had often been sidelined or overlooked.
As Burnham was preparing to assume office, influential Labour campaigners on Violence Against Women and Girls sent him a document urging the establishment of a comprehensive public inquiry. This document proposed investigations into Epstein’s UK activities, the conduct of Mohamed Al Fayed, and accusations featured in BBC Panorama and The Times about West Ham co-owner David Sullivan allegedly preying on women—claims Sullivan has publicly denied. The campaigners called for an inquiry into “impunity,” questioning how influential men were able to allegedly carry out such abuses. The document also raised concerns over Epstein’s apparent ability to use UK military bases for flights, sometimes with reportedly trafficked women, a matter previously highlighted by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Epstein survivor Anouska di Georgiou welcomed the reports of a possible inquiry but cautioned, “Survivors have heard promises before, so what matters now is action, not headlines.”
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