The fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate on both sides of the Atlantic. Leon Black, the billionaire financier and co-founder of Apollo Global Management, emerged from a court appearance in London this afternoon with no charges filed. But the political tremor in Westminster was immediate.
Labour MP Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, has already tabled an urgent question demanding the Treasury explain what it knows about Black's financial dealings in the UK. The whispers in the Lobby are that Number 10 is rattled. This is not a story that will go away.
Black's testimony, part of ongoing civil litigation linked to Epstein's sex trafficking network, was expected to shed light on his relationship with the deceased financier. Instead, it yielded little new information. His legal team declined to answer substantive questions, citing client confidentiality. The judges let him walk.
But the political class is not so forgiving. A cross-party group of MPs, led by former cabinet minister David Davis, is now calling for a full parliamentary inquiry into the extent of Epstein's UK connections. Davis told me: "It is simply not credible that a man of Epstein's notoriety operated in London without the knowledge of some in the City. We need transparency, not silence."
The Treasury has so far refused to comment. But sources close to the Chancellor indicate he is 'monitoring the situation'. Translation: they are hoping this blows over. It won't.
Black's lawyers issued a statement describing the hearing as 'a routine procedural matter'. But the optics are damning. A billionaire walking free while victims demand answers. The public is watching.
Inside Number 10, the calculation is delicate. Starmer's team is eager to avoid being seen as defending the establishment, but they also know that a full-blown inquiry could unearth uncomfortable truths about political donations. Several senior Tories have received funding from Black-linked entities in the past.
The timing is particularly awkward. With the government already struggling to regain public trust after Partygate, the last thing they need is a fresh scandal linking them to Epstein's orbit. But the pressure is mounting. The Speaker has indicated he will grant the urgent question, meaning Treasury ministers will have to face the Commons on this within days.
What happens next is anyone's guess. But one thing is certain: the Lobby is buzzing. This story has legs. And Leon Black may have walked free today, but his problems are far from over.
