The left fell for Russell Brand, and regretted it (Image: Getty)
I’ve always felt uncomfortable around men who boast about their sexual conquests. So when three-times “Shagger of the Year” Russell Brand was in his prime, I found him deeply disturbing. Weirdly, mine felt like a minority view, especially in the entertainment industry and, more especially, on the Left. They cast their feminist and basic human principles aside and swooned before this serial shagger, simply because he claimed to be one of them.
The rollcall of the great and left-wing good who prostrated themselves before Brand is astonishing. It includes two of the most powerful men in British politics: Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Back in the day, they were all too happy to act like his mate. With Brand now facing a “significant” custodial sentence, they’re behaving as if they’d barely heard of him.
Others include Labour Education Secretary Lucy Powell, former Labour adviser Alastair Campbell and left-wing firebrand Owen Jones. As well as The Guardian newspaper, the New Statesman and, of course, the BBC, which gave him a priceless public platform for years. They all got far too close to Brand and should be burning with shame right now. But they probably won’t be. To be left-wing is to be good and right, whatever you’ve actually done.
Brand won them over by posing as an anti-establishment revolutionary, railing against capitalism, inequality and Westminster. He urged people not to vote, arguing the entire system was corrupt. In 2013, the New Statesman rewarded this creep by handing him the guest editorship of its revolution-themed edition. Didn’t they smell a rat?
Here was a multimillionaire living in luxury, preaching revolution from his velvet chaise longue. And he hardly kept his attitudes towards women secret. In a 2007 stand-up performance, he joked that when selecting women to sleep with, he didn’t like getting “bogged down in things like age, race or whether or not they’re awake”.
In 2013, he joked in a show: “Oh and also I raped someone once. I killed her after, she’ll never tell.” His 2007 memoir, My Booky Wook, also described spitting on women and compiling a “victims list” of those he had “wronged as a result of my sexual addiction”. Apparently, picking the names for the list was like “Saddam Hussein picking out individual Kurds”. Hilarious.
Then came 2008’s infamous Sachsgate scandal. Brand and a chortling Jonathan Ross left elderly Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs obscene messages boasting that Brand had slept with his granddaughter. The BBC later apologised. It suspended Ross for three months. Plenty of celebs fell for him too – with David Walliams, Noel Gallagher and Noel Fielding among his famous friends.
You might have thought prominent left-wing luminaries would have kept their distance. But they didn’t. Even though Danii Minogue called him out as a “vile predator” as early as 2006.
In 2014, PM Andy Burnham, then shadow health secretary, defended Brand against allegations of hypocrisy over his tax arrangements, tweeting: “Keep going @rustyrockets.”
Burnham also praised a Brand article about Margaret Thatcher as the “best thing ever written by a West Ham fan”. Brand had written: “I always felt sorry for her children.” Charming. Although given the Left was singing “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” after Thatcher’s death, that’s positively mild.
Then came Miliband’s extraordinary 2015 election courtship. Desperate to attract younger voters, Miliband agreed to be interviewed by Brand at his London penthouse. Powell helped arrange it, while Campbell declared: “I, for one, was glad when I heard Ed Miliband had said yes.”
Owen Jones also wrote that “Russell Brand matters”, urging Miliband to embrace the comedian. Anyone who heeds Jones has what’s coming to them.
Nobody is suggesting they knew about the crimes for which Brand has now been convicted. Miliband was in two minds about the interview, but felt pushed into it. Burnham just wants to be everybody’s mate. Yet Brand’s public behaviour was hardly invisible. His sexual swagger and shabby attitude towards women were all out there. And I loathed it at the time. Oh and in case you wondered, I loathe Donald “grab ’em by the p***y” Trump too.
The Guardian and New Statesman gave Brand a platform, credibility and an audience. Will it destroy their reputations? Nope. They’re the good guys, aren’t they? The righteous ones who lecture the rest of us. Even after they’ve had their pants pulled down by Russell Brand.
RUSSELL BRAND JUST GAVE LABOUR A HUGE PROBLEM – MILIBAND AND BURNHAM’S SILENCE IS DEAFENING!
Russell Brand has once again found himself at the centre of a political storm, creating an uncomfortable situation for Labour and raising difficult questions about the party’s response to some of Britain’s most controversial public debates.
The comedian-turned-commentator has become an increasingly prominent figure in discussions about politics, free speech, government accountability and the influence of powerful institutions.
His latest intervention has attracted attention because of the questions it raises for senior Labour figures, including Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham.
For Labour, the challenge is not simply about responding to Brand himself. It is about demonstrating consistency, transparency and a willingness to address difficult political questions regardless of who raises them.
And with public confidence in politicians already under pressure, the party can ill afford to appear evasive.
Russell Brand Puts Labour in an Awkward Position
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Brand has developed a substantial audience by challenging mainstream political narratives and questioning the decisions of established institutions.
His commentary frequently focuses on government accountability, corporate influence, freedom of expression and the relationship between politicians and the public.
His supporters believe he raises questions that mainstream political figures sometimes avoid.
His critics, meanwhile, argue that his political commentary can be provocative and that controversial claims deserve careful scrutiny.
Nevertheless, his ability to generate public debate makes him a difficult figure for politicians to ignore.
When Brand raises questions involving government policy, Labour must decide whether to respond directly or risk allowing criticism to grow without an explanation.
Why Ed Miliband Is Facing Questions
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Ed Miliband has become a prominent figure in Britain’s political discussions surrounding energy, climate policy and the cost of living.
As Energy Secretary, his decisions have attracted considerable attention from households concerned about electricity prices, environmental targets and the future of Britain’s energy supply.
Critics have questioned whether government climate policies place too much financial pressure on ordinary families.
Supporters argue that investment in renewable energy is essential for long-term energy security and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Brand’s wider criticism of established institutions intersects with these debates, particularly when questions arise about corporate influence, political accountability and the financial consequences of government decisions.
Miliband therefore faces a difficult political balancing act: defending the government’s energy strategy while demonstrating that ordinary households have not been forgotten.
Andy Burnham’s Position Creates Another Headache
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Andy Burnham has also become a prominent figure in national political discussions.
His approach to public services, economic policy and Britain’s relationship with Europe has attracted criticism from political opponents.
He has frequently presented himself as a politician willing to challenge established thinking.
However, critics argue that Labour politicians must demonstrate that their principles remain consistent when controversial issues emerge.
The question is whether Burnham and other senior Labour figures are prepared to address uncomfortable questions publicly rather than allowing difficult debates to develop without clear answers.
There is no established evidence that either Miliband or Burnham has deliberately avoided a specific statement because of Brand’s intervention.
Nevertheless, their positions on the underlying political issues remain legitimate subjects for public scrutiny.
The Growing Battle Over Free Speech
One of the biggest themes surrounding Brand’s political commentary is freedom of expression.
Britain has experienced increasingly heated disagreements about what can be said publicly, how controversial opinions should be treated and where the boundaries of acceptable debate should lie.
Some argue that people should be able to challenge governments, institutions and established narratives without facing attempts to silence them.
Others point out that freedom of speech does not remove the responsibility to provide accurate information or distinguish allegations from established facts.
For Labour, this is a particularly important issue.
The party must demonstrate that it supports open political debate while maintaining appropriate standards of accountability.
Labour’s Energy Policy Faces Growing Scrutiny
Energy policy could become another major battleground.
Millions of households remain concerned about the cost of heating their homes and paying electricity bills.
Labour has defended its approach by arguing that Britain needs a more secure and sustainable energy system.
However, critics question the speed and cost of the transition.
They want ministers to explain how renewable energy investment will translate into lower household bills and more reliable supplies.
Miliband will need to convince voters that environmental ambitions and economic affordability can work together.
Simply promising long-term benefits may not be enough for families struggling with immediate expenses.
Why Labour Cannot Ignore Public Frustration
The political danger for Labour is that several different concerns are beginning to overlap.
Immigration, taxation, energy costs, public services and freedom of speech have all become subjects of intense national debate.
When politicians fail to explain their decisions clearly, opponents can quickly fill the gap.
Brand’s growing influence among sections of the public illustrates how alternative political voices can attract attention when voters feel that established institutions are not listening.
Labour therefore faces a communication challenge as much as a policy challenge.
The government must provide clear answers, publish relevant evidence and explain how its decisions benefit ordinary people.
Could This Become a Bigger Political Problem?
The controversy also highlights a wider challenge for Keir Starmer’s government.
Labour came to power promising competence, stability and a fresh approach to governing Britain.
But maintaining public confidence requires more than electoral promises.
Ministers must be prepared to defend difficult decisions and respond to criticism with evidence rather than political slogans.
Miliband faces questions about energy policy.
Burnham faces questions about his political positions and approach to national issues.
And Labour’s leadership must demonstrate that it is willing to engage with controversial debates rather than simply dismissing uncomfortable criticism.
The Silence Question
The accusation that Miliband and Burnham have remained silent is politically powerful, but silence alone does not establish wrongdoing or agreement with Brand’s arguments.
What matters is whether the underlying questions deserve answers.
If Brand has raised specific claims, those claims should be examined on their evidence and merits.
Politicians should be expected to respond where they have responsibility for the relevant policies.
That is how public accountability should work in a democracy.
Labour Faces an Important Test
Russell Brand’s latest intervention has created another opportunity for Labour’s critics to challenge the government.
Whether the controversy develops into a serious political problem will depend on the substance of the issues involved and how ministers respond.
Miliband and Burnham cannot be expected to comment on every statement made by a public commentator.
However, they can be expected to explain their own policies and answer legitimate questions from voters.
Ultimately, the public wants politicians who are willing to defend their decisions openly.
THE BIG QUESTIONS:
- Has Russell Brand exposed a weakness in Labour’s political messaging?
- Should Ed Miliband respond to criticism of Labour’s energy policies?
- Why are Andy Burnham’s political positions attracting so much attention?
- Is Britain experiencing a growing crisis of trust in established institutions?
- Should politicians engage more directly with controversial commentators?
- Can Labour restore public confidence before the next general election?
Britain needs honest political debate, clear answers and accountability from those in power. Whatever people’s views of Russell Brand, the questions surrounding government policy should never be dismissed simply because they come from an unpopular or controversial voice.