BBC Question Time crowd erupts into laughter as host Fiona stops Andrew debate

During last night’s episode of Question Time on BBC One a debate on the monarchy fit for purpose and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor caused the crowd to erupt into laughter

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Journalist Esther Krakue didn’t hold back when she spoke about Andrew(Image: AP)

A live TV debate had to be interupted as the audience erupted into laughter when discussing the latest accusations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his time as trade envoy.

Fiona Bruce hosted this evening’s Question Time from Birmingham, with politicians, commentators and members of the public. On the panel, from the government, the culture secretary Lisa Nandy; the Conservatives’ shadow home office minister, Alicia Kearns; Jess Brown-Fuller MP from the Liberal Democrats; the chef and television presenter Tom Kerridge and the journalist Esther Krakue.

During the episode a debate on the royal family and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor caused the crowd to erupt into laughter. Audience member, Peter More, asked: “Given the latest accusations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is the monarchy fit for purpose in the 21st century?”

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Host Fiona Bruce explained that MPs are not generally freely able to scrutinise the royals in parliament, she said: “very little is known about how much money the royals actually have, estimates vary from £650 million to over £1 billion, no-one really knows and they are also exempt from all kinds of laws and taxes as well.

Jess Brown-Fuller MP from the Liberal Democrats said: “Before being elected I had no idea that politicians were unable to scrutinise members of the royal family in parliament.” She went on to say: “I think it is important for all victims in this country to know that nobody is above the law, regardless of birth right, position, friends, bank balance, nobody should be above scrutiny and nobody should be above the law.”

Journalist Esther Krakue didn’t hold back when she spoke about Andrew, saying: “I appreciate the anger around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor; he is clearly an entitled, arrogant man with no judgement.” Interrupting Esther, host Fiona jumped in to say: “I have to say at this point he denies any wrongdoing, you may all laugh there but this is my duty and I have to say that.”

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Jess Brown-Fuller MP from the Liberal Democrats

Esther continued: “This is not fair on the working royals who are looking to just do a good job for the country, and the question is how do we stop this from happening?”

Alicia Kearns chimed in saying: “I think the monarchy is incredibly important in this country, I think we’re incredibly proud of our monarchy in this country.” But she emphasised the bigger issue as: “Women said that they were being treated badly, women said they were being abused, we were not seen they were not heard and actually it’s not just Mountbatten and I think there’s a real risk we focus on him and allow other people to slip away into the dark.” She concluded: “But I’m not done until we get through the list of all those men.”

Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to his friendship with dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.