Prime Minister Andy Burnham is thinking about launching formal investigations into two major sexual abuse cases: the UK activities of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and the alleged crimes of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

Victims' minister Alex Davies-Jones shared the news on BBC Newsnight. She said the prime minister agreed to meet Epstein's victims, was "looking into" an inquiry, and was "taking this very seriously." Justice minister Jake Richards told Sky News the same thing.

Burnham became prime minister in July 2026, about a month before these discussions became public. Davies-Jones said she brought up the idea of an Epstein investigation when Burnham re-appointed her as victims minister. Her return to the role is notable because she had quit the previous government under Keir Starmer in May, saying Starmer should resign.

The contrast with Starmer's approach is clear. In June, Starmer told Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips his "door is open" but never agreed to meet her. He offered her a meeting with two ministers instead. Burnham has agreed to meet victims directly, though he has not formally promised an inquiry.

The Al Fayed case adds a lot to the picture. More than 400 people have accused him of sexual abuse between 1977 and 2014. The accusations include rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking. London's Metropolitan Police are investigating claims from at least 156 people. Twenty-one of them came forward before Al Fayed died in 2023.

Survivors have called Al Fayed "Britain's Jeffrey Epstein" and want a national investigation. A BBC report in March 2026 said 154 victims had come forward with allegations against him.

The broader context helps explain the pressure on Burnham's government. The Al Fayed allegations span nearly four decades, and most people came forward only after his death. Survivors are connecting the two cases, arguing the UK needs to face what happened the way the United States has examined Epstein's network.

For Burnham, the decision is not simple. A public inquiry is a special kind of investigation. Think of it like a courtroom with no judge or jury — instead, a panel asks questions, demands evidence, and writes a public report. These inquiries are powerful because they can force people to testify. But they are slow, sometimes lasting years and outlasting the government that started them. Committing to one or two at the same time would shape a big part of Burnham's time as prime minister.

There is also a political layer. Davies-Jones resigned from the last government calling for Starmer to step down. Now she is back in government, pushing for investigations the previous leadership never committed to.

No timeline has been set for a decision on either case. What is known is that the talks are happening at the highest levels of the new government, that Burnham has agreed to meet Epstein's victims, and that two of the biggest sexual abuse cases in recent UK history are now in play.

The difference between what is already happening and what a public inquiry could add matters. The Metropolitan Police are running a criminal investigation into Al Fayed — that means looking at whether specific people committed crimes. A public inquiry could go further, asking how institutions failed to stop the abuse and how power and access allowed it to continue for so long. Whether Burnham's government takes that step has not been decided.