Keir Starmer Won't Join Calls For Prince Andrew To Give Up His Rent-Free 30-Bed Mansion

Prince Andrew leaves the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in April.Keir Starmer has refused to join calls for Prince Andrew to give up the 30-bedroom mansion he lives in rent-free.A furious political row has erupted after it was revealed the King’s brother has only paid a “peppercorn rent” on Royal Lodge in Windsor for more than 20 years.Details of the prince’s financial arrangement with the Crown Estate, which owns the property, emerged just days after he gave up his royal titles amid fresh allegations about his friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.He is also a police probe over claims he tried to smear Virginia Giuffre, who claims to have had sex with him three times when she was a teenager.Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: “It’s about time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private and make his own way in life.“He has disgraced himself, he has embarrassed the royal family time and again. I don’t see why the taxpayer, frankly, should continue to foot the bill at all. The public are sick of him. ”Asked if Andrew should leave Royal Lodge, Jenrick told Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t think the taxpayer in any way should be footing the bill for him to live in luxury homes ever again.”Lisa Smart, the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson, said Andrew had “betrayed the values of the British people”.“The longer this whole sorry saga goes on, the more his presence in public life is an insult and increasingly an embarrassment,” she said.“He should show some contrition by returning every penny of rent that he’s not paid while disgracing his office.”But Starmer’s official spokesman refused to join the calls for the prince to move out of Royal Lodge.He said: “The lease was agreed with the Crown Estate, which is statutorily independent from government, required to operate commercially.“Terms of the lease required an initial one-off £1 million payment to the Crown Estate, as well as a requirement for Prince Andrew to pay for substantial upfront refurbishment work.“The National Audit Office reviewed the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge in 2005. And in its report, which was published at that time, concluded that the Crown Estate does not have any special procedures when negotiating agreements with the royal family.“An independent evaluation concluded that the transaction with Prince Andrew and Royal Lodge was appropriate.”Meanwhile, pressure is also mounting for parliament to pass a law formally removing Andrew’s royal titles.Although he will no longer be known as the Duke of York, it would require legislation to officially take the title off him.The SNP has launched a bid for the matter to be debated in the Commons.The PM’s spokesman said: “Prince Andrew has already confirmed he will not use his titles. We support the judgement made by the royal family.“In terms of our focus and thoughts, they are firmly with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who suffered and continue to suffer because of the abuse they experienced at his hands.“Those allegations are being looked at by the Met.”Related...'Step Forward': Marjorie Taylor Greene Delivers Blunt Message To Prince Andrew Over Epstein AllegationsMPs Under Growing Pressure To Pass Law Stripping Prince Andrew Of His Royal Titles

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