# REVEALED: Mandelson Pushed For Prince Andrew To Be Trade Envoy | #NovaraLIVE

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd5QAPHh6fE
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/Kd5QAPHh6fE
Generated: 2026-02-20T20:04:36.844+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Peter Mandelson vigorously promoted Prince Andrew's appointment as the UK's trade envoy in 2001, overruling concerns from Prince Charles, despite Andrew's known playboy lifestyle and subsequent association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which ultimately contributed to the ongoing scandal and public calls for Andrew's removal from the line of succession.

**Key Points:**
- Prince Andrew spent 11 hours in police custody after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking the first arrest of a royal family member in 350 years.
- It emerged that Peter Mandelson, then out of government, pushed for Andrew to become the trade envoy in 2001, overriding Prince Charles who suspected Andrew would 'chase women, and play golf.'
- Concerns about Andrew's suitability were raised as early as 2001 due to his association with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking.
- Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown submitted a memorandum to police detailing evidence of Jeffrey Epstein tracking flights carrying trafficked girls, including one email mentioning a girl just turned 18 linked to Prince Andrew.
- Yuggov polling shows 82% of Britons think Andrew should be removed from the royal line of succession, although he remains eighth in line.
- The US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in a six-three ruling, which Trump called a 'disgrace' and vowed to bypass using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act.
- Journalist Paul Holden detailed how Josh Simons, then head of Labour Together, hired US firm Appco to smear critics, leading Simons to falsely suggest to GCHQ that Holden was a threat due to supposed Russian links and personal relationships.

**Context:** The Novara Live broadcast addresses several major news items, focusing heavily on the fallout from Prince Andrew's arrest concerning his alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein and information passed to him while he served as the UK's trade envoy. The discussion also covers a significant US Supreme Court ruling against Donald Trump's tariffs and allegations of a smear campaign orchestrated by Josh Simons of Labour Together against critical journalists, including Paul Holden.

## Detailed Analysis

Prince Andrew was arrested and held for 11 hours following an investigation believed to involve allegations that he shared confidential government information with Jeffrey Epstein; this situation is compounded by the revelation that Peter Mandelson championed Andrew's 2001 appointment as trade envoy, ignoring Prince Charles's warnings about Andrew's character, including his tendency to chase women and associate with the wealthy. Furthermore, reporting from Private Eye indicated concerns about Andrew's association with Ghislaine Maxwell surfaced immediately upon his appointment. On the matter of Epstein's trafficking, former PM Gordon Brown provided police with information detailing Epstein's use of Stansted airport to fly in trafficked girls, with one email explicitly linking a young girl to Prince Andrew. Public sentiment strongly favors stripping Andrew of his royal status, with 82% of Britons wanting him removed from the line of succession. Separately, the US Supreme Court invalidated Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs imposed using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a move Trump furiously rejected while planning to use a different statute, Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Finally, journalist Paul Holden revealed that Josh Simons of Labour Together hired Appco to investigate critics, falsely briefing GCHQ that Holden, who exposed Labour Together's donation issues, was linked to Russian state actors based partly on his partner's father's past association with Jeremy Corbyn.

### Prince Andrew Scandal

- Andrew arrested for 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office
- Mandelson pushed for Andrew's 2001 trade envoy role against Charles's advice
- Public opinion demands removal from line of succession (82% favor removal)
- Virginia Giuffre alleged being trafficked to Andrew in 2001, Andrew settled civil suit for an undisclosed amount.

### Trump Tariffs Overturned

- US Supreme Court struck down Trump's global tariffs in a six-three ruling, stating he misused the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
- Ruling may force repayment of $134 billion in tariffs collected
- Trump reacted angrily, stating he will impose tariffs using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act.

### Labour Together Smear Campaign

- Josh Simons, then head of Labour Together, hired Appco to discredit journalists like Paul Holden and Gabriel Pogrand for critical reporting
- Simons falsely briefed GCHQ, suggesting Holden was a Russian proxy based on his sourcing and partner's family links
- GCHQ was unimpressed, and no official investigation was opened against Holden.

### Political Analysis

- The segment noted that the political establishment, including Charles, enabled Andrew for a quarter of a century despite knowing his character
- Political correspondent Barry Malone suggests the Mandelson/Andrew/Epstein circles moved in similar elite circles
- Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer leads the Gordon and Denton by-election poll (32% vs Reform's 29%) despite attacks on Green social policies.