{"id":6606,"date":"2026-08-05T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6606"},"modified":"2026-08-05T09:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T09:00:07","slug":"burnham-considering-public-inquiry-into-uk-activities-of-jeffrey-epstein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=6606","title":{"rendered":"Burnham considering public inquiry into UK activities of Jeffrey Epstein"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"f0d35427-2f91-4755-b38b-b3bd4abeac64\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andy Burnham \" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3c718bb385691e4a3cfe58a141a9f7ecd87ba215\/513_0_4857_3886\/master\/4857.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.03829524397776\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Andy Burnham is \u2018looking at what is possible, now he has access to all of the information as prime minister\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Annabel Lee-Ellis\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"f0d35427-2f91-4755-b38b-b3bd4abeac64\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Andy Burnham is \u2018looking at what is possible, now he has access to all of the information as prime minister\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Annabel Lee-Ellis\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Burnham considering public inquiry into UK activities of Jeffrey Epstein<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Minister says PM has agreed to meet victims of sex offender \u2013 and is mulling separate inquiry into Mohamed Al Fayed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Andy Burnham is considering launching a public inquiry into the UK activities of the convicted sex offender <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/jeffrey-epstein\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>, a minister has said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The victims\u2019 minister, Alex Davies-Jones, said the prime minister had agreed to meet Epstein\u2019s victims, was \u201clooking into\u201d an inquiry and was \u201ctaking this very seriously\u201d. A separate inquiry into the alleged actions of the former Harrods owner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/mohamed-al-fayed\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Mohamed Al Fayed<\/a> is also being considered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Asked if a public inquiry was on the table, Davies-Jones told BBC Newsnight: \u201cWe are looking into this, we are reviewing what is possible \u2026 same with Harrods survivors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe already have a now statutory inquiry under way for the grooming gangs victims. I have been assured that the prime minister is taking this very seriously.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cHe will meet with those victims and he is looking at what is possible, now he has access to all of the information as prime minister to see \u2026 what action we can take.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">More than 400 allegations of sexual abuse have been made against Fayed, from 1977 to 2014, including claims of rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Metropolitan police are investigating allegations from at least 156 complainants including 21 who came forward before Fayed died in 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Davies-Jones, who returned as victims minister under Burnham\u2019s premiership, said she had sought assurances before rejoining government that victims would always be prioritised.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI was having multiple conversations with him and his team,\u201d Davies-Jones said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cHe agreed to meet with the Epstein victims. He was in close contact with them throughout that period where he was becoming prime minister, and he has assured me that he will meet them now he\u2019s prime minister and will work with us to look at systemic change across the system for all victims, whether that be the Epstein victims, Harrods survivors, grooming gangs victims.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">She added: \u201cWhat more can we do to truly make sure that our criminal justice system is taking victims seriously, that they can rebuild that faith and trust in the system again? I have had assurances from the prime minister that he\u2019s willing to do that and make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">After quitting Keir Starmer\u2019s government calling on him to resign in May, Davies-Jones urged the former prime minister to meet survivors of Epstein\u2019s abuse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">At the end of June, Starmer told the survivor and campaigner Lisa Phillips his \u201cdoor is open\u201d but stopped short of agreeing to meet her. Instead she was offered a meeting with the former chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, and Davies-Jones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/jeffrey-epstein\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/politics\/andyburnham\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Andy Burnham<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/sexual-harassment\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Sexual harassment<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/mohamed-al-fayed\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Mohamed Al Fayed<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Burnham%20considering%20public%20inquiry%20into%20UK%20activities%20of%20Jeffrey%20Epstein&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/burnham-considering-public-inquiry-jeffrey-epstein-mohamed-al-fayed?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Faug%2F05%2Fburnham-considering-public-inquiry-jeffrey-epstein-mohamed-al-fayed&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/burnham-considering-public-inquiry-jeffrey-epstein-mohamed-al-fayed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Andy Burnham is \u2018looking at what is possible, now he has access to all of the information as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":6608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6606"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6609,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6606\/revisions\/6609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}