Downing Street refuses to make time for MPs to debate Prince Andrew's conduct

The government is refusing to make time in parliament for MPs to debate the conduct of Prince Andrew amid a flood of new allegations against him.

The prime minister's spokesperson told reporters: "Prince Andrew has already confirmed he will not use his titles. "We support the decision made by the Royal Family, and we know the Royal Family would not want to take time from other important issues." The only way for MPs to discuss the disgraced royal's friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his peppercorn rent for a mansion would be for the government to make time in the parliamentary timetable.

Politics latest: Starmer says he has 'confidence' in Jess Phillips Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said there is no ban on MPs discussing the conduct of a member of the Royal Family, but it would have to be on a "substantive motion" rather than during regular question time sessions. Substantive motions can be tabled by the government, opposition parties in opposition day debates, and by backbenchers through an application to the Backbench Business Committee.

In response to repeated questions from journalists about why Number 10 was blocking a debate in the main chamber, the spokesman said: "I don't accept that. Any decision by committees to scrutinise developments are a matter for them." Asked whether No 10 viewed it as a waste of parliamentary time to discuss Andrew's lease of the Royal Lodge on a peppercorn rent, the spokesperson said: "That's not what I've said." The chair of parliament's Public Accounts Committee, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said in a statement on Thursday that they will be "writing in the coming days to the Crown Estate Commissioners and HM Treasury, seeking further information on the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge".

"We will review the response we receive to our forthcoming correspondence, and will consider at that time whether to seek further information," he added. The prime minister's spokesperson said earlier that Sir Keir Starmer "supports proper scrutiny of the crown estates and all uses of taxpayers' money.