Ex-minister Alex Davies-Jones delivers letter to No 10 demanding PM meets with Epstein survivors

A former victims minister has delivered a letter to Number 10 Downing Street calling on the prime minister to meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.

Alex Davies-Jones, who resigned from government last month, joined a survivors' representative to hand-deliver the letter on Monday afternoon. It also asks Sir Keir Starmer to launch a public inquiry into Epstein's network in the UK

The representative, Carly Elizabeth Hamilton, and survivor Lisa Phillips, write that they are "no longer prepared to accept expressions of regret without action".

The letter shared exclusively with Sky's political correspondent Ali Fortescue, tells Sir Keir and his chief secretary, Darren Jones: "It is our belief that you do not fully understand the horrific trauma that survivors endured."

This is the third time since 27 April that Ms Phillips has written to the prime minister asking for a meeting, although Sky News understands that because she is not a constituent, only the second letter reached him.

Today's letter follows Mr Jones's admission to the House of Commons last week that he "at best subconsciously" treated Lord Mandelson, a close friend of deceased financier Epstein, "differently" because he "believed him to have influence and power within the Labour Party".

Mr Jones had added: "I'd like to apologise to the House, to the victims, to Lisa, and commit to then doing something about it."

Hours later, The Spectator magazine published a message from the Mr Jones to Mandelson on the day that he was sacked as ambassador to the US after fresh revelations about the closeness of his relationship with Epstein, which the peer has previously apologised for and admitted went on for too long.

Mr Jones reportedly wrote: "You've been doing such a great job, and you worked wonders with Trump. I'm so sorry about today."

Ms Phillips writes in Monday's letter: "For survivors, this is not simply contradictory - it is deeply hurtful and profoundly damaging to trust.

"It is devastating because we believe that, at this stage, you knew of Peter Mandelson's close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, yet you were offering him comfort and support, knowing why he was being removed because of that close relationship with his 'best pal'. Again, this is another blow for survivors."

She adds: "When powerful political figures receive sympathy, praise and protection while victims continue to fight for recognition, that question [of who will believe us] is answered once again."

'How can survivors have confidence?'

Turning to the prime minister, Ms Phillips notes that he has previously accepted responsibility for appointing Lord Mandelson to the senior diplomatic role and apologised for it.

But she adds: "If a senior minister acknowledges knowing about many of the stories surrounding Peter Mandelson 'from many, many years ago', and admits that he treated him differently because of his influence and power, how can survivors have confidence that political relationships did not contribute to a culture of silence?"

She calls for "action" from Mr Jones and the prime minister in the form of an "immediate public inquiry, meaningful engagement with survivors and a commitment that institutional failures will never again be allowed to silence victims".

Survivors of Epstein's abuse say an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 should be established, arguing that survivors are seeking accountability and answers about the paedophile's network and those connected to it.

Ms Phillips also requests that the prime minister meet with her alongside other Epstein survivor advocates, the former victims minister who delivered the letter to Number 10 today, and representatives from multiple police forces.

She says: "Those who come forward deserve more than apologies. They deserve to be heard. They deserve to be believed. They deserve action."

Ms Davies-Jones resigned as victims minister last month, and said in parliament last week: "While significant effort appears to have gone into cultivating relationships with influential figures in the tech world, victims were left feeling unheard and overlooked. That is the wrong way round.

"I sought to use my position in government to advocate for victims. But when you are forced to fight tooth and nail simply to have those voices heard, something is not working as it should. That is why I took the difficult but necessary decision to resign."

She has previously urged the prime minister to meet with Epstein survivors, saying they risk being an "afterthought".

Mr Jones and Downing Street have been contacted for comment about the letter delivered earlier today.

A government spokesperson previously said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims of Epstein, who have lived with unimaginable trauma, and it is crucial that accountability is delivered."

They added: "The Epstein scandal has exposed a culture that didn't value the lives of women. That is why government is deploying the full power of the state to halve violence against women and girls within a decade."

Lord Mandelson has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing. He previously apologised for maintaining his relationship with Epstein, which he admitted went on for too long.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ex-minister Alex Davies-Jones delivers letter to No 10 demanding PM meets with Epstein survivors