Liberal Democrat MP Monica Harding has accused Prince Andrew of damaging Britain’s popularity throughout his 10-year tenure as commerce envoy
Officers feared a go to by Andrew as commerce envoy was damaging to Britain’s standing (Picture: -)
Officers feared that “boastful” Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “would do harm” to Britain’s popularity while serving as a commerce envoy , a Liberal Democrat MP has claimed.
Monica Harding instructed the Commons that the previous prince remained in his submit for 10 years regardless of having a “popularity that preceded him”, while considerations have been “met with a shrug.”
Her remarks got here as ministers agreed to launch paperwork regarding the royal’s appointment to the envoy function, following his launch beneath investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace final week.
Previous to getting into politics, Ms Harding served as director of communications on the British Council, which Andrew visited in his capability as a commerce envoy.
“Earlier than his arrival, senior employees in each the embassy and the British Council have been rolling their eyes – his popularity preceded him,” the MP for Esher and Walton stated.
“I used to be instructed it was a containment train, that abroad missions feared placing him on the market in case he stated one thing inappropriate, that he was boastful and that he wasn’t on prime of the element of his temporary.
“Quite than trying ahead to his go to as a possibility to play up Britain, as a substitute, it was thought that he would do harm.”
She additional alleged that the previous prince “smeared” the work of British scientists on Dolly the sheep, the primary cloned mammal, dismissing it as “garbage” at an exhibition she had organised.
One employees member felt “deflated and did not perceive why this consultant of the British state diminished what she was rightly happy with”, Ms Harding stated.
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The previous Duke of York stands accused of sharing delicate data with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a particular consultant for commerce and funding between 2001 and 2011.
He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace final week, earlier than being launched pending additional investigation.
Talking within the Commons, commerce minister Sir Chris Bryant described Andrew as “a person on a continuing self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle”, and “a impolite, boastful and entitled man who couldn’t distinguish between the general public curiosity, which he stated he served, and his personal personal curiosity.”
He recounted Andrew’s go to to the Sea Cadets in Tonypandy, in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“They have been completely delighted and excited to fulfill a member of the royal household,” Sir Chris stated.
“However he insisted on coming by helicopter, not like his mom, who got here twice to the Rhondda and all the time got here by automotive. He left early and he confirmed subsequent to no real interest in the younger individuals.”
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