Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that Russell Brand has rightly been held to account for his horrific crimes while addressing the Labour Party’s past associations with the comedian. The remarks follow Brand’s conviction on Thursday for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Past Labour Associations and the 2014 Tweet
More than a decade ago, prior to police investigations, certain figures within the Labour Party attempted to secure Brand’s support as he gained a following through anti-establishment views, regular newspaper columns, and appearances on political discussion shows such as the BBC’s Question Time. In 2014, Burnham—serving at the time as shadow health secretary—posted a supportive message on social media defending the comedian amid media scrutiny regarding his housing arrangements.
Although the exact reference of the 2014 post remains unclear, The Sun had reported the previous day that Brand paid rent to a landlord based in a tax haven while simultaneously campaigning against tax avoidance. Brand threatened legal action and stated he would donate the funds to victims of the Hillsborough disaster, a cause long championed by Burnham. At the time, Burnham posted that it was depressing to see a media mission to discredit someone refusing to play their game, urging Brand to keep going.
Speaking to the BBC on Friday regarding that social media post, Burnham explained that he had no awareness of the full scope of Brand’s actions or future conduct. Burnham remarked, “It’s not always the case that people know everything about people in public life, but what is important is that where there is wrongdoing it is exposed.” The Prime Minister praised the courage of the victims and the work of the journalists who exposed the crimes, describing Brand’s offenses as horrific and noting that justice for the victims is the correct course of action.
Ed Miliband’s Reaction and Trial Outcome
Ahead of the 2015 general election, then-Labour leader Ed Miliband participated in an interview with Brand, who had previously rejected voting but subsequently endorsed Labour after concluding Miliband would listen to the public. Miliband, currently serving as foreign secretary, has previously expressed regret over the interview.
On Friday, a spokesman for Miliband told the BBC that these are horrific crimes and that Miliband’s profound sympathy is with the victims. The spokesman reiterated Miliband’s 2023 statement expressing regret and noting that he was unaware of the allegations at the time and would not have conducted the interview with the knowledge he has now.
During a four-week trial involving allegations from six women concerning incidents between 1999 and 2009, Brand was also found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. The 51-year-old was denied bail and remains in custody over the weekend ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday.
