<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/uk"><span>UK</span></a><span> government has approved the release of papers related to former </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/prince-andrew"><span>prince Andrew</span></a><span>'s appointment as a trade envoy, amid deepening scrutiny of his links to disgraced </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/usa"><span>US</span></a><span> financier </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a tone of righteous indignation in the House of Commons on Tuesday (early Wednesday AEDT) as lawmakers openly questioned whether it was time to end the parliamentary convention restricting criticism of the </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/royal-family"><span>royal family</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trade Minister Chris Bryant launched the strongest attack on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was not protected by the tradition due to being stripped of his titles.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-billed-uk-taxpayers-for-massage-services/913ec801-3f1b-4750-876e-4aa8e997a6fe"><strong><span>Andrew 'billed UK taxpayers for massage services' while trade envoy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I doubt there is anyone in this house who is not shocked and appalled by the recent allegations," Bryant said, during the debate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Colleagues and many civil servants have told me their own stories of their interactions with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, and they all betray the same pattern.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A man on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle, a rude, arrogant and entitled man who could not distinguish between the public interest, which he said he served, and his own private interest."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-files-update-former-prince-andrew-documents-released-approved-by-uk-house-of-commons/b6992cd9-c14e-43e7-b61b-78b1f23a73b3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mountbatten-Windsor is suspected of improperly passing government information to convicted paedophile Epstein during his roughly 10 years as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The house voted unanimously to approve the release of documents related to his appointment after the Liberal Democrats used an arcane parliamentary procedure known as a humble address to pressure the Labour government on the matter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was unclear when the release could occur, as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-police-arrive-at-home-amid-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/8b871351-30b7-4202-99e6-04169219b5d6" rel="" target="" title="former prince was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office"><span>former prince was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office</span></a><span>. The government has made clear it does not want to interfere in the inquiry.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-obstetrician-rhys-henry-stone-bellinge-learns-sentence-for-fatal-crash/0f09559c-c742-43e8-b1cc-9787ff10d12f"><strong><span>Dashcam shows doctor's drunk, angry rampage that left woman dead</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey argued it was time for transparency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In many ways, this is the first truly global scandal from the White House and Silicon Valley to Oslo and Paris, but it's also a deeply British scandal reaching right to the top of the British establishment,'' Davey said in opening the debate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Politicians lined up to criticise Andrew and at least four of them said convention shielding the royal family in parliament should end.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These arcane rules make a mockery of our democracy," Scottish National Party MP Brendan O'Hara said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nobody, regardless of rank or privilege, should or must be above the law."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaker Lindsay Hoyle had given lawmakers approval to discuss the former prince on the basis that he is no longer a member of the royal family, having been stripped of his titles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbattenwindsor-arrested-former-prince-andrew-is-eighth-in-line-to-the-throne-can-he-be-removed/88c5ea35-e056-4c90-89eb-0cfcff9fe124"><span>Work is also under way to remove the former duke of York from the line of succession</span></a><span>, under which he is eighth in line to the throne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-pm-anthony-albanese-throws-support-behind-push-to-remove-former-prince-from-line-of-succession/8efe37b6-5ff5-48ba-aa48-fe1834cc89cd" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>PM urges UK to boot Andrew from royal line, but others call to go further</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-pm-anthony-albanese-throws-support-behind-push-to-remove-former-prince-from-line-of-succession/8efe37b6-5ff5-48ba-aa48-fe1834cc89cd"><span>Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote to his UK counterpart</span></a><span> to pledge his support for such a move, which needs to be adopted by all Commonwealth countries with the British monarch as their head of state.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bryant said he would try to get the documents released as soon as possible, but officials would need to check it would not interfere with the police investigation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Publication of the vetting documents could embarrass figures who served in then Prime Minister Tony Blair's government when he was appointed as well as members of the British royal family, which is </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/the-british-royal-family-faces-its-worst-crisis-in-generations/9f2a0b81-5d3c-4c69-8ef4-bbe8c9b3f7c7"><span>facing its worst crisis in 90 years</span></a><span> over Mountbatten-Windsor's connections to Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The police began investigating Mountbatten-Windsor after the US government last month released emails appearing to show he had passed documents to Epstein while he worked as a trade envoy. Trade envoys are usually barred from sharing such material under confidentiality rules.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in more than three centuries when he was questioned by officers on suspicion of misconduct in public office.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has not spoken publicly since the release of more than 3 million pages of documents by the US government relating to Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The debate in Britain's parliament came as the US Justice Department's release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein exposes how the wealthy financier used an international web of rich, powerful friends to gain influence and sexually exploit young women.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nowhere has the fallout been felt more than in the UK, where the scandal has raised questions about the way power is wielded by the aristocracy, senior politicians and influential businessmen, known collectively as "the establishment".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>- Reported with Associated Press and Reuters</span></em><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>