Source : Perth Now news
Andy Burnham said he had “no idea” about the extent of Russell Brand’s wrongdoing at the time he and other senior Labour figures engaged with the disgraced comedian.
The British prime minister said “it’s not always the case that people know everything about people in public life”, and that Brand’s crimes are “horrific”.
Burnham gave a public show of support for Brand in 2014 following a Sun story about his housing arrangements.
The newspaper revealed he paid rent on his London home to a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands.
The Sun branded him a hypocrite for paying for the luxury property to a firm based overseas while at the same time campaigning against high rents and tax dodgers.
Burnham urged Brand – who used the online name @rustyrockets – to continue with his campaigning.
The prime minister, at the time an opposition frontbencher, said in a message on social media: “Depressing to see media mission to discredit someone who stops playing their game & uses celebrity to help others. Keep going @rustyrockets.”
In 2015, in the run-up to the general election, then-Labour leader Ed Miliband appeared on Brand’s online show.
On Friday the BBC questioned Burnham about Labour’s attempts to court Brand as a way of winning the youth vote.
He said: “Well, over a decade ago. And all I can say is, I had no idea of the full extent of what he was doing or what he went on to do.
“His crimes are horrific. He’s rightly been held to account, justice for the victims and that is the right course that’s been taken here.
“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.
“And as I say again, credit to the victims, huge credit, the courage that it’s taken, but also the journalists who have exposed this.”
Brand is likely to face further allegations as more victims come forward in the wake of his rape conviction, the UK’s top policeman said on Friday.
Brand, the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, is facing a lengthy jail term after being convicted in a London court on Thursday of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three more.
Mark Rowley, Commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, told the BBC that in previous cases involving famous figures convicted of sex crimes, it was common for new victims to bring allegations to police after a conviction.
“I clearly wouldn’t be surprised if many more came forward,” he said, adding that the conviction gives victims confidence.
“It does make a difference because people see it is possible, and you will be believed,” he added.
with Reuters
