Nick Robinson roasted Ed Davey on Today.Nick Robinson skewered Ed Davey over his past praise for the “excellent job” the then Prince Andrew was doing as the UK’s trade envoy.The Lib Dem leader was left embarrassed during an excruciating grilling on Radio 4′s Today programme.Davey is forcing a vote in the House of Commons today which could force the government to publish all documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment and performance as trade envoy.He said: “I think we’ve seen too often in the past that people, because of their title or their friends or whatever, have not been properly held to account.“The rules of the House of Commons have prevented, and Speakers have overseen this over the centuries, prevented MPs from criticising members of the Royal Family and sometimes even mentioning them, and that really seems old fashioned and is the wrong thing to do.”But Robinson told him: “It’s what you did when you were a minister though, isn’t it?”Davey then admitted praising the job the then Prince Andrew did as UK trade envoy during a Commons debate in 2011, when he was business minister in the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government.“I regret doing that,” he said.Robinson said: “You said the Duke of York’s done ‘an excellent job’. You said he’s been ‘a longstanding success in the role’, you said he’s ‘a real asset for our country, supporting UK business’.“And concerns being raised by a Labour backbencher, Paul Flynn, at the time, echoing the concerns of human rights groups about Prince Andrew, you dismissed as ‘innuendo’.”The Lib Dem leader replied: “First of all, can I apologise to all those victims of Epstein who may have read those words and been upset by them. I really regret them.“I was taking over a debate from another minister and wasn’t really over the brief.”Robinson went on to remind Davey that he had criticised Flynn for bringing the debate, saying his “timing is particularly inappropriate as it comes four days after the Royal wedding [between William and Kate], when I believe the whole country showed the support that they give to the Royal Family”.“It’s quite embarrassingly at odds with what you’re now saying, isn’t it,” Robinson asked him.Davey said: “Yes. I didn’t know what we now know back then and it’s interesting to note that the prime minister at the time ensured that Prince Andrew stood down from the role two months later.“So clearly someone in government did know there were huge problems with the way he was conducting his role.”He added: “I’m pretty angry, to be honest, that I was put in that position.”But Robinson then asked: “Shouldn’t you have learned that people in power should not merely read out words provided for them criticising others who raise questions, and not go back to their office and say ‘how do we know this is actually true’?”The Lib Dem leader said: “I wish I hadn’t said those words, and I think we are all learning that the need to make sure that whatever position of power is held by an individual, they are accountable for that.”Related…’Why Should Anybody Believe You?’: Nick Robinson Monsters Labour Minister Over Latest U-TurnNick Robinson Accuses Top Tory Of ‘Political Opportunism’ Over Grooming Gangs Scandal’Why Won’t You Apologise?’: Nick Robinson Clashes With Rachel Reeves Over Tax Rises On Working People HuffPost UK – Athena2 – All Entries (Public) Read More