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There is "no justification" for the UK Government not to change the law to officially strip Prince Andrew of his titles , the SNP’s leader at Westminster has said. Stephen Flynn said he would "not sit silent" while the family of Virginia Giuffre and the British public are "angry and aghast". It comes amid claims Prince Andrew had sought to obtain through his police protection staff the personal information of Giuffre, who was trafficked by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles last week ordered his younger brother to stop using his Royal titles following more embarrassing revelations over the prince's friendship with Epstein. Royal sources told how the King had grown “weary and furious” over the continuing tide of scandal plaguing the monarchy and told Andrew that drastic action was needed to stem it. Andrew agreed following the phone call to give up his titles except prince. He will no longer be Duke of York or a Knight of the Garter – the world’s oldest order of chivalry. But Flynn said such a move did not go far enough. "The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose life was destroyed, are angry and aghast," he said. “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.” In a book published this week, Giuffre says she had sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions, including once with Epstein and approximately eight other young women. Prince Andrew, who reached a financial settlement with. Giuffre in 2022, has always denied any wrongdoing. MP Rachael Maskell today backed Flynn's position and said Westminster should "act" over removing Prince Andrew’s titles. Maskell, who previously introduced a private members’ bill that would give the monarch powers to remove titles, said: "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. "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 MP, who had the Labour whip taken off her for objections to the Government’s welfare reforms, added: “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." To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here
