UK government to consider changing age of consent after allegations against Russell Brand

Key Points:

• The UK government is considering changing the age of consent laws following Mia Latter's public allegation that Russell Brand raped her when she was 16 and he was 30, with calls for a staggered age of consent to criminalize adult-teen relationships involving 16 and 17-year-olds.
• Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, emphasized the importance of listening to victims like Latter and acknowledged that while changing the age of consent would be significant, it warrants proper consideration and scrutiny.
• Russell Brand denies the allegations; he was convicted in 2023 for other sexual offenses and is serving a 10.5-year prison sentence, while the investigation into Latter’s specific claim remains ongoing with the Metropolitan Police and CPS.
• The government is also reviewing the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of sexual assault and harassment, partly in response to allegations against comedian David Walliams, who denies wrongdoing amid police investigations.
• Politicians across parties, including Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller, support reviewing age of consent laws to address power imbalances between adults and teenagers, with calls for increased protections for young women and girls.