Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is being investigated for misconduct in public office.

Prince Andrew (Image: Getty)

Sir Ed Davey announced that the Liberal Democrats is calling for documents to be released on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a UK trade envoy in 2001. The Lib Dem leader made the announcement on BBC Breakfast, just days after the former Duke of York, 66, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Reports suggest Andrew shared “sensitive and confidential” information relating to his time as UK trade envoy with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, Sir Davey has explained why they will call in Parliament for the documents to be released, acknowledging that the public “want answers”.

He said: “The public wants some answers to this scandal. They want to know why the former Prince Andrew was appointed to this very privileged position as trade envoy in the first place.

“That’s why we’ve used a parliamentary process to make sure that all the documents that were related to that – the due diligence, the vetting, any correspondence between ministers, particularly Peter Mandelson who was heart of the government then – is actually published, so we can get some greater transparency.”

Sir Davey added: “There’s a general principle behind this debate and that is that whoever you are, whatever your title, whoever your friends are, you should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny and I think transparency and openness is the way forward if we’re going to restore trust.”

Asked what the party is hoping to find, the politician responded: “I don’t know what we’ll find but we do know that getting the documents in the public domain so MPs, the media and the public can see who made the decision and why, is important.”

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Ed Davey believes releasing these documents, including those relating to vetting, will provide the public with answers (Image: BBC Breakfast)

The 60-year-old expressed concern over how the scandal is impacting the monarchy, and hopes releasing the documents will help protect the institution.

He continued: “There is another point though. I’ve been worried by the impact this will have on the great institution of our country. The monarchy is one of the only institutions where there is still some trust and it’s also an institution that brings us together, and this scandal is weakening that.

“If we’re going to protect the monarchy, I think the only way forward is to change the way we consider it. More transparency and openness, particularly over the Andrew affair, is essential to protecting the monarchy.”

Pressed on whether he would support the government if it chose to remove Andrew from the line of succession, Davey admitted his party is encouraging the decision.

“I think it’s important because the idea that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could become king would horrify many people,” he added.