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WHY was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor ever given the key and sensitive role of British trade envoy?
It seems the only person who thought it was a good idea was Peter Mandelson — arrested by police yesterday — who pushed for the ex-prince to be hired.
Both had in common their close friendships with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
Neither, it turned out, ever really had Britain’s best interests at heart.
Former ambassadors have come forward to say they made complaints about Andrew’s boorish behaviour on tours of vital trade partner countries in the Middle and Far East years ago.
Yesterday, it emerged he made expenses claims for “massages” and luxury travel without any questions raised.
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It’s clear that despite reservations, Andrew was indulged for years by craven senior Government figures.
They allowed taxpayers to pick up the bill for the former duke’s jaunts abroad.
Today both Andrew and Mandelson are under police investigation over whether their conduct was criminal.
But there are questions now, too, for the ministers and senior civil servants who allowed them free rein.
Deadly failures
THE inquiry into the Nottingham murders is already uncovering appalling failures.
Had paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane been properly handled and treated, his victims Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates might still be alive today.
Instead, repeated mistakes were made by care professionals — like freeing him over fears of being seen as racist.
After Calocane tried to batter down a neighbour’s door, he was let go over concerns about “over-representation of young black males in detention”.
Within 40 minutes of being released, he attacked another neighbour’s door.
He should never have been on the streets. Yet the inability to control him follows a depressingly familiar pattern of systemic failure between the NHS, police and other services.
Nothing can bring his victims back.
But as Grace and Barnaby’s families say, those who have failed them cannot be allowed to hide behind institutions which are no longer fit for purpose.
Clinging on
HOW much longer can Josh Simons remain as a Cabinet Office minister?
Simons insisted he had no idea a US lobby firm would target journalists probing funding of the Labour Together group, which was key in propelling Sir Keir Starmer to power.
Last week it emerged he DID know after all.
Now the PM has ordered a full sleaze inquiry.
Surely, he should stand down pending the verdict on his role in a shameful attack on the free Press.
