Ed Miliband says he ‘deeply regrets’ appearing on Russell Brand’s web show… a week

Ed Miliband says he ‘deeply regrets’ cosying up to convicted rapist Russell Brand during his failed bid to become Prime Minister. 

The Foreign Secretary, 56, recorded an interview in the now-disgraced comedian’s flat as he tried to win over younger voters prior to the 2015 general election. 

It was posted online as part of Brand’s show The Trews, a YouTube series which saw him dissect the newspapers and television. 

The interview has, however, brought Miliband a wave of criticism in the wake of Brand’s conviction. The comedian was on Monday sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for raping a fan and sexually assaulting three other women between 2004 and 2009. 

On Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch said the former Labour leader ‘should be ashamed’ of his ties to Brand, who is being investigated over two further allegations of rape.

Mr Miliband has now apologised for the interview, saying he ‘never would have done it’ had he known of Brand’s crimes. 

The politician told Channel 4: ‘What Russell Brand did was horrifying. It was horrifying, and all of my sympathies are with the victims of Russell Brand. 

‘And of course, there are further allegations about him as well as the crimes he’s been convicted of. 

Ed Miliband says he ‘deeply regrets’ cosying up to convicted rapist Russell Brand during his failed bid to become Prime Minister

The comedian was on Monday sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison for raping a fan and sexually assaulting three other women between 2004 and 2009

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had earlier claimed during Prime Minister’s Questions that Mr Miliband should be ‘ashamed’ of his ties to Brand

‘If I had known then what has come to light, I would, as I’ve said before, never have done that interview. And as I’ve also said before, I deeply regret doing it.’ 

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs Badenoch launched an attack against Mr Miliband – currently at the Cop31 environment summit in Turkey – over his refusal to approve the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea when he was energy secretary. 

‘He called Rosebank “climate vandalism”, but then he also thought cosying up to Russell Brand would make him prime minister,’ she added.

‘So, I don’t think we need to trust his judgment.’

Labour MPs shouted ‘shame’ in response to her remarks.

Mrs Badenoch hit back: ‘They’re saying “shame”, they’re right – the Foreign Secretary should be ashamed’.

Downing Street had earlier defended the Foreign Secretary, repeating Education Secretary Lucy Powell’s assertion earlier this week that the interview took place a ‘long time ago’.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not address Badenoch’s comments about Mr Miliband’s ties to Brand during PMQs.  

After his conviction last week, it was revealed that two further rape allegations against Brand are already being investigated by detectives and Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he expects more victims to come forward.

The Met confirmed it is probing information from ‘several people’.

Brand is pictured at The Tempest film premier in New York in October 2010

We speak to the detective who brought down Russell Brand

Hi, I’m Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk.

Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults – and our reporters Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull were in court every day to witness it all. They sat down with Detective Inspector Laura Nelson who revealed why the women who accused him in the infamous documentary were not involved in his rape trial. 

Subscribe to The Crime Desk to listen to the podcast. 

A spokesman for the force said: ‘Several people have contacted the investigation team during and since the trial to provide information or report a potential criminal allegation. Detectives are assessing this information as part of their ongoing enquiries.’

On Monday, Brand’s former girlfriend Jemima Goldsmith, 52, became the latest to publicly come forward, accusing the comic of ‘violence, coercive control and abuse’.

She said she was so terrified after a ‘violent incident’ in 2014 that she called police to remove him from her £15million Cotswolds mansion.

An unrepentant Brand showed no emotion as a judge said he had abused his celebrity to prey on women, believing ‘fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live’.

In the dock, Brand sat blinking in disbelief as he was told that he will serve at least seven years of a ten-and-a-half-year sentence for attacks on four women.

Brand now faces the prospect of a second trial as police sift through a raft of new claims, and prosecutors are expected to decide within weeks whether to charge him with two further alleged rapes, including an attack on a 16-year-old.

Mr Justice Bennathan said the defendant had harboured a ‘casual arrogant disregard to any woman’s right to say no to you’, telling him: ‘About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes you were funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.’ 

The judge blasted Brand’s ‘staggering arrogance’ and belief that his ‘status protected’ him after he resorted to smearing journalists when they first exposed his attacks in 2023.

He also criticised Brand’s entourage for indulging ‘dreadful behaviour’ after assaults took place in front of staff who laughed or did nothing.

He paid tribute to the ‘determination and bravery’ of the victims.

‘All those women had to face being confronted and being told they had lied, or twisted the truth and, or, they had agreed to your sexual demands: that was all done because of you, on your instructions,’ he said.

Mr Justice Bennathan made a point of condemning rape myths after Brand’s defence barrister came under fire for reeling off a series of stereotypes, suggesting the victims should not be believed because they did not scream more, kick or slap him.

The judge said: ‘Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent.’

Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, was paid around £1million for defending him, legal sources have told the Daily Mail.

Mr Winter was hired after several top female barristers refused to defend him, it is understood.

But the move backfired, with Mr Winter facing a Bar Standards Board probe after launching a foul-mouthed tirade at the journalist whose investigation exposed Brand, telling her after the verdict that she had ‘f*****’ justice.

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