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| Prince Andrew: Standard Chartered bank cuts ties with duke's scheme | Prince Andrew: Standard Chartered bank cuts ties with duke's scheme |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Standard Chartered has become the second corporate partner to sever ties with the Duke of York's business mentoring initiative, Pitch@Palace. | Standard Chartered has become the second corporate partner to sever ties with the Duke of York's business mentoring initiative, Pitch@Palace. |
| The bank joined accountancy firm KPMG in pulling support for the scheme. | The bank joined accountancy firm KPMG in pulling support for the scheme. |
| It said it was not renewing its sponsorship for "commercial reasons". | It said it was not renewing its sponsorship for "commercial reasons". |
| Several businesses and universities are reviewing their association with Prince Andrew following a BBC interview about his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. | Several businesses and universities are reviewing their association with Prince Andrew following a BBC interview about his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. |
| Sources have told the BBC the decisions by Standard Chartered and KPMG were made before the interview. | Sources have told the BBC the decisions by Standard Chartered and KPMG were made before the interview. |
| 'Very serious questions' | |
| Meanwhile, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn were asked about whether Prince Andrew was "fit for purpose" during their head-to-head debate on ITV on Tuesday evening. | |
| The Labour leader said there were "very, very serious questions that must be answered and nobody should be above the law". | |
| The prime minister said: "I think all our sympathies should be, obviously, with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and the law must certainly take its course." | |
| In his Newsnight interview, broadcast on Saturday, the Queen's third child said he still did not regret his friendship with US financier Epstein - who took his own life in August while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in the US. | |
| The interview has provoked a backlash, with businesses, charities and other institutions announcing that they were reviewing their association with the prince. | |
| In addition to Standard Chartered and KPMG ending their support for Pitch@Palace: | In addition to Standard Chartered and KPMG ending their support for Pitch@Palace: |
| On Monday, the Huddersfield students' union panel passed a motion to lobby the prince to resign as their chancellor. | On Monday, the Huddersfield students' union panel passed a motion to lobby the prince to resign as their chancellor. |
| The university has since said that it listens to its students' views and will "now be consulting with them over the coming weeks". | The university has since said that it listens to its students' views and will "now be consulting with them over the coming weeks". |
| The duke has stood by his decision to speak out, after critics labelled the interview a "car crash". | The duke has stood by his decision to speak out, after critics labelled the interview a "car crash". |
| But speaking on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Tuesday, Huddersfield student Tristan Smith criticised the prince over his friendship with Epstein. | But speaking on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Tuesday, Huddersfield student Tristan Smith criticised the prince over his friendship with Epstein. |
| He accused Prince Andrew of "trying to dismiss" the row and failing to recognise Epstein's victims. | He accused Prince Andrew of "trying to dismiss" the row and failing to recognise Epstein's victims. |
| Meanwhile, a woman who has accused Epstein of sexually abusing her as a 15-year-old has urged Prince Andrew to share information about his former friend. | Meanwhile, a woman who has accused Epstein of sexually abusing her as a 15-year-old has urged Prince Andrew to share information about his former friend. |
| The accuser, identified as "Jane Doe 15", did not accuse Prince Andrew of any wrongdoing but called on him and others to come forward and give a statement under oath. | The accuser, identified as "Jane Doe 15", did not accuse Prince Andrew of any wrongdoing but called on him and others to come forward and give a statement under oath. |
| Elsewhere, former home secretary Jacqui Smith alleged that Prince Andrew made racist comments to her during a state dinner. | Elsewhere, former home secretary Jacqui Smith alleged that Prince Andrew made racist comments to her during a state dinner. |
| "I have to say the conversation left us slack-jawed with the things that he felt it was appropriate to say," she told the LBC election podcast. | "I have to say the conversation left us slack-jawed with the things that he felt it was appropriate to say," she told the LBC election podcast. |
| And Rohan Silva, who was an adviser to former prime minister David Cameron, also accused the prince of using a racial slur in his presence. | And Rohan Silva, who was an adviser to former prime minister David Cameron, also accused the prince of using a racial slur in his presence. |
| A Buckingham Palace spokesman strenuously denied the claims, adding that Prince Andrew "does not tolerate racism in any form". | A Buckingham Palace spokesman strenuously denied the claims, adding that Prince Andrew "does not tolerate racism in any form". |
| There is no wholesale repudiation of Prince Andrew's public role. | There is no wholesale repudiation of Prince Andrew's public role. |
| But whether as a result of the interview he gave, or because of the continuing swirl of allegations, there is a falling away of support for the prince, both corporate and political. | But whether as a result of the interview he gave, or because of the continuing swirl of allegations, there is a falling away of support for the prince, both corporate and political. |
| The former Labour lord chancellor and justice secretary, Lord Falconer, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that he thought the time had come for Prince Andrew to step away from public duties. | The former Labour lord chancellor and justice secretary, Lord Falconer, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that he thought the time had come for Prince Andrew to step away from public duties. |
| Those close to Prince Andrew say that a withdrawal from public life is not under consideration. | Those close to Prince Andrew say that a withdrawal from public life is not under consideration. |
| But if support continues to seep from him, it will undermine his public position. | But if support continues to seep from him, it will undermine his public position. |
| 'Human tragedy' | 'Human tragedy' |
| There was also further reaction to the prince's BBC appearance. | There was also further reaction to the prince's BBC appearance. |
| Actress Rose McGowan - one of the most prominent figures of the #MeToo movement - told the Victoria Derbyshire programme she thought it was not a truthful interview. | Actress Rose McGowan - one of the most prominent figures of the #MeToo movement - told the Victoria Derbyshire programme she thought it was not a truthful interview. |
| "It's also certainly not the mark of someone who is an empathetic character who cares about victims in any way," she added. | "It's also certainly not the mark of someone who is an empathetic character who cares about victims in any way," she added. |
| The actress also said she wished more questions had been asked about Epstein's alleged victims. | The actress also said she wished more questions had been asked about Epstein's alleged victims. |
| "We can't forget there is human tragedy behind this... This has serious repercussions, serious ramifications and serious pain that is involved in this story." | "We can't forget there is human tragedy behind this... This has serious repercussions, serious ramifications and serious pain that is involved in this story." |
| However, Alastair Campbell - Tony Blair's ex-communications chief - said that although he thought the interview was a "mistake", it was not "as bad as it is now being defined". | However, Alastair Campbell - Tony Blair's ex-communications chief - said that although he thought the interview was a "mistake", it was not "as bad as it is now being defined". |
| Mr Campbell, who was another high-profile Briton to be named in Epstein's 97-page "black book" of contacts, also told the Today programme that he met the financier on a visit to the US for a funeral and found him to be "a bit creepy". | Mr Campbell, who was another high-profile Briton to be named in Epstein's 97-page "black book" of contacts, also told the Today programme that he met the financier on a visit to the US for a funeral and found him to be "a bit creepy". |
| Prince Andrew's BBC interview followed allegations by Virginia Giuffre, known at the time as Virginia Roberts, who claims the prince had sex with her on three occasions - the first when she was aged 17. | Prince Andrew's BBC interview followed allegations by Virginia Giuffre, known at the time as Virginia Roberts, who claims the prince had sex with her on three occasions - the first when she was aged 17. |
| Prince Andrew "categorically" denied having had sexual contact with her. | Prince Andrew "categorically" denied having had sexual contact with her. |
| In an extraordinary interview, which you can watch in full on BBC iPlayer in the UK or YouTube elsewhere in the world, the duke said: | In an extraordinary interview, which you can watch in full on BBC iPlayer in the UK or YouTube elsewhere in the world, the duke said: |