Prime Minister Andy Burnham addresses past link to Russell Brand after conviction

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that Labour politicians who courted Russell Brand more than ten years ago did not know about his crimes, BBC News and the Daily Mail reported. The statements followed the conviction of Brand on Thursday for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Speaking to the media on Friday, Burnham described the acts committed by the 51-year-old comedian as horrific, according to BBC News and the Daily Mail. [1][3][5][8]

Burnham also praised the bravery of the victims who spoke out against Brand, the Daily Mail and the Independent reported. Addressing a supportive social media message he posted in 2014 when Brand faced criticism from the media, Burnham noted that people in public life do not always know everything about others. The Telegraph reported that Burnham had previously praised Brand for helping other people. [1][2][3][6][8]

The Daily Mail reported that Labour figures, including Burnham and former party leader Ed Miliband, attempted to win over Brand after the 2010 election to build support among voters. The party sought to leverage his anti-establishment and anti-Tory image. The court conviction has led to public questions about the historical support given to Brand by figures on the political left. [3][4]

Labour leaders continued to engage with Brand despite earlier public controversies, the Daily Mail reported. These included his open admissions in his own memoir and the 2008 Sachsgate incident, in which Brand left messages on the BBC Radio 2 broadcast of actor Andrew Sachs regarding Sachs's granddaughter. [4]