Newly resurfaced details highlight past interactions between disgraced comedian Russell Brand and several prominent Labour Party figures, occurring years before his recent conviction for sexual assault and rape.
In 2012, Brand, a former heroin addict, was invited to speak about his recovery at a meeting of the Home Affairs Committee by Labour MP Keith Vaz. Brand's appearance, marked by a casual demeanor and jokes about his arrests, was described by some MPs as turning the serious discussion into a "variety show." Vaz, who later resigned from Parliament after a scandal involving cocaine and male sex workers, had courted Brand despite the comedian's growing notoriety, including the "Sachsgate" incident in 2008.
Brand's engagement with the Labour Party extended beyond Vaz. In 2017, he appeared alongside then-shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth at the Labour Party Conference to discuss addiction, advocating for drug decriminalization. He called for regulated drug policies, stating that criminalization led to stigma and that many individuals in prison suffered from mental health issues.
During this period, Brand also garnered support from other Labour figures. In 2014, Andy Burnham, then shadow health secretary, tweeted his support for Brand, praising his use of celebrity to "help others." Ahead of the 2015 general election, then-Labour leader Ed Miliband was interviewed by Brand at his London penthouse.
Following Labour's electoral performance in 2015, Brand shifted his public support to Jeremy Corbyn. In a 2017 article, Brand praised Corbyn's "integrity" and perceived compassion on various issues, contrasting him with a "neo-liberal homogeneity."
Other Labour MPs also had past positive interactions with Brand. In 2013, Chris Bryant, now Northern Ireland Secretary, wrote a column praising Brand's intelligence and humor, though he also criticized Brand's talk of revolution as a "luxury." Jess Phillips, a former Labour minister, engaged with Brand on social media in 2013 about political engagement and later posted about Brand visiting a substance recovery center with her brother in 2016.
These past associations have come under renewed scrutiny following Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault, stemming from incidents during his career in the 2000s. Phillips stated this week that she felt "relief" upon hearing of his conviction.