A York MP has called for Prince Andrew to be stripped permanently of his dukedom by Parliament.
Prince Andrew agreed to would stop using the Duke of York title amid continuing scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, but only an act of Parliament can remove it permanently.
Rachael Maskell, the independent MP for York Central, said she is “minded” to bring a Removal of Titles Bill, which would give the monarch or Parliament the power to revoke honours — something not currently possible under British law.
Maskell told The i Paper she believes “it would only be appropriate to bring forward legislation so that justice could be served”, adding that the controversy “has caused distress to survivors” of abuse linked to Epstein.
She said: “[In 2022], I put forward a bill, the Removal of Titles Bill, to be debated in Parliament. I did that as a presentation bill at the time. I’m minded to bring it back as soon as possible, because it’s still an outstanding issue, and I think that’s where we need to be.”
A presentation bill is one of the simplest forms of a private member’s bill, allowing backbench MPs to introduce draft legislation without debate. Such bills rarely become law unless the Government allocates parliamentary time, but they are often used to signal political intent or to put pressure on ministers.
It is unclear whether time will be found if Maskell reintroduces the Bill. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told Sky News that the Government would be “guided by the palace and the Royal Family” on any decision to strip Andrew of his titles.
“It’s really important as a government minister that I allow, and that we allow, the Royal Family to make its decisions on these questions,” he said.
Pressed on whether the Government was open to a parliamentary vote to formally strip Prince Andrew of his titles, Downing Street sources pointed to Miliband’s comments.
Maskell said she was considering writing to ministers to ask if parliamentary time could be found.
“It seems clear that this would be welcomed by the palace,” she said. “The King does not hold those powers, and I think it’s right that those powers are given.”
Her proposal would allow the King to remove titles or permit a grand committee of both Houses of Parliament to make a recommendation. “The King should not only be somebody who can give dukedoms, but can remove them as well,” she said.
Andrew, 65, announced on Friday that he would no longer use his Duke of York or other royal title honours citing ‘continued accusations’ related to his association with Epstein (Photo: AP)Andrew, 65, announced on Friday that he would no longer use his Duke of York title or other royal honours, citing “continued accusations” related to his association with Epstein. “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” he said.
Although Andrew has stopped using the title, he remains legally the Duke of York.
The only relevant law, the Titles Deprivation Act 1917, was created during the First World War to remove honours from nobles who had “borne arms against His Majesty” or “adhered to His Majesty’s enemies”.
That Act has only been used once, in 1919, to strip four peers of their titles for siding with Germany. It does not apply to cases involving personal misconduct or reputational damage, meaning the King cannot unilaterally remove Andrew’s titles without new legislation.
Maskell’s earlier Bill aimed to fill that gap, giving the monarch explicit powers to remove titles or allowing Parliament to recommend it. The Government declined to allocate parliamentary time for it in 2022.
At the time, Maskell said the change would “address a deficiency in the law” that prevents action against those whose behaviour has caused public outrage.
A York Press poll in 2022 found 80 per cent of residents wanted Andrew’s title removed, and York City Council voted that year to strip him of his Freedom of the City.
The office of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle declined to say whether he would be prepared to make parliamentary time for such a vote.
MPs can, however, seek a debate by applying to the backbench business committee, which decides which motions are scheduled for discussion in the Commons chamber.
Buckingham Palace was contacted for comment.
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