Lady Colin Campbell Says Soliciting Prostitution From A Minor Isn't Paedophilia

Lady Colin Campbell has shocked viewers by claiming that soliciting prostitution from minors 'is not the same as paedophilia'.

The 70-year-old made the inexplicable argument on Good Morning Britain during a discussion about Prince Andrew's involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

ITV

During a discussion about the inappropriateness of the Duke of York visiting the late financier after his 2008 conviction for having sex with an underage prostitute, Lady Campbell chimed in: "You all seem to have forgotten that Jeffrey Epstein, the offence for which he was charged and for which he was imprisoned, was for soliciting prostitution from minors.

"That is not the same thing as paedophilia."

Presenter Piers Morgan then asked her what she calls it, to which she replied: "Prostitution."

Clearly as incredulous as the rest of the nation watching on, Piers said: "If you solicited a 14-year-old for prostitution, you're a paedophile."

Lady Campbell then said it 'doesn't matter', prompting Morgan to tell her she was talking 'nonsense'.

He said: "It does matter. You're procuring an underage girl for sex. That's what he was convicted of. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, with respect, that is nonsense."

Lady Campbell then concluded her argument with the claim that there is a difference between a minor and a child, which from a legal perspective, there isn't.

Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein came under the microscope once again this weekend after a Newsnight interview with the duke was aired on the BBC.

When interviewer Emily Maitlis quizzed him on why he was photographed with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution, Prince Andrew claimed he had visited to end their friendship.

He said: "I took the judgement call that because this was serious, and I felt that doing it over the telephone was the chicken's way of doing it, I had to go and see him and talk to him."

He also suggested that a photograph appearing to show him with his hand on the waist of a 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre - who claims she was made to have sex with him three times - was faked.

He said: "I don't believe it's a picture of me in London because when I go out in London, I wear a suit and a tie. That's what I would describe as... those are my travelling clothes... if I'm going overseas.

"Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored but I don't recollect that photograph ever being taken.

"I am not one to, as it were, hug and public displays of affection are not something that I do."

Topics: TV and Film, Good Morning Britain, UK Entertainment

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey