© AFP/ITV/Jonathan Hordle
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on the set of "Johnson v Corbyn: The ITV Debate" in Salford, north-west England.
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on the set of "Johnson v Corbyn: The ITV Debate" in Salford, north-west England.
The Labour Party leader was pressed about his thoughts on the royal family, and Prince Andrew in particular, during a televised election debate with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday.
Asked if Andrew was "fit for purpose," Corbyn argued that focus should be put on helping Jeffrey Epstein's victims, adding that there are "very, very serious questions that must be answered and nobody should be above the law." He also said that the British monarchy "needs a bit of improvement."
His Conservative opponent insisted that "the institution of the monarchy is beyond reproach," but stressed that "all his sympathies" were with the girls and women abused by Epstein and his cohorts. "The law must certainly take its course," Johnson noted.
Some commentators on social media expressed bafflement at Johnson's unwillingness to criticize the royal family, while others said Corbyn had been too soft on Andrew.
The Duke of York made a widely-derided appearance on BBC, in which he "categorically" denied allegations of sex abuse against a minor. One of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre, claims she was forced into sex with Andrew between 1999 and 2002.
Should people be required to present proof of age before sex?
In video footage the female 'victim' in this case looked utterly charmed.
As for Prince Andrew, he was born into a culture where (according to Prince Harry) the entire family believed they could do anything they like provided they didn't get caught - and they do.