Labour Ministers Regret Past Interview With Russell Brand

Education Secretary Lucy Powell and former Labour leader Ed Miliband expressed regret over a 2015 interview with Russell Brand after the comedian was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Powell, who served as vice chairwoman of the Labour party's 2015 election campaign, stated that the interview occurred in a "different era" before Brand's predatory behavior was exposed. She asserted that neither she nor Miliband had any sense at the time that Brand was a sexual predator. Miliband had previously stated in 2023 that he only agreed to the appearance to encourage young people to vote.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the Labour party for "chasing celebrities," though she declined to demand a formal apology. Badenoch noted that the party may not have known the extent of Brand's crimes when the interview took place.