UK government considers changing age of consent after allegations against Russell Brand | Law

The Government said it would consider calls to change the age of consent after a woman waived her right to anonymity to publicly claim she was raped by Russell Brand when she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

Mia Latter, now 37, claimed she was orally raped by the jailed comedian when she was a teenager and he was 30.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, she called for the introduction of a tiered age of consent – which would make relationships between adults and teenagers aged 16 and 17 illegal.

Louise Haigh, de facto deputy prime minister, told the newspaper that Latter’s “heartbreaking story” meant a change in the law was worth considering.

She said: “We need to listen to Mia and other victims like her who have had these experiences because it is really important that as legislators their experience is at the heart of what we consider.

“Changing the age of consent would clearly be a huge step, but it deserves careful consideration and consideration. I can completely understand why she is calling for it.”

Under UK law, adults of any age can legally have sex with 16 and 17 year olds.

The latter said: “It shocks me time and time again that every time news comes up about him, it’s always in the comments about being in a relationship with a 16-year-old.

“It’s not the most heinous point. But why is it the thing that everyone is collectively hanging on to? I think we all kind of agree that…adults shouldn’t be allowed to have sex with children, with anyone under 18. It really doesn’t seem like a huge step to take.”

The latter has been mentioned under the pseudonym Alice in previous reports in the Sunday Times, The Times and the Channel 4 documentary Dispatches.

She was 16 when she first met Brand in Leicester Square, central London, on her way home from a shopping trip.

He took her number and then messaged her asking if she wanted to go to dinner, she said.

She told the newspaper that Brand – who was working at MTV at the time – still asked her to meet after confessing his age.

The latter alleges that Brand orally raped her towards the end of their three-month relationship.

Brand denied all allegations made against him by Latter when they were first reported in 2023 by The Times.

She spoke to police after the documentary, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to include her case in Brand’s trial at Southwark Crown Court.

He was convicted of assaulting four of the six women who testified against him and is currently serving a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence for one count of rape and three sexual assaults.

Earlier this week it was announced that a series of allegations of “serious” sexual offenses against comedian David Walliams were being investigated by the Metropolitan Police after an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News.

A woman has described her alleged encounter with Walliams when she was 15 as a “sexual assault”.

Walliams denies any wrongdoing.

Haigh went on to say that in light of the news that one of Walliams’ accusers had been asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), the government should also consider banning them in cases of alleged sexual assault and harassment. She said: “Considering the allegations against David Walliams, teenagers who were fans would not be targeted by the current consultation.

“I think there are very good reasons to consider banning NDAs in all circumstances where they are linked to harassment or discrimination, to ensure that no victim, regardless of where it happened or what their relationship with the perpetrator was, should ever be silenced.”

It is believed non-Labour MPs could back a bill to change age of consent laws, with Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Jess Brown-Fuller speaking out in favor of revising them.

Praising the latter for the “extraordinary courage” it took to lift her anonymity, Brown-Fuller said: “I think we need to go further to increase the protection of young women and girls, and considering a tiered age of consent is an important step.

“We already have rules that recognize power imbalances in professions: between teachers and students, or between lawyers and younger colleagues. It is time for the government to recognize the implicit power imbalance held by older men over teenage girls.”

Her decision to come forward was also welcomed by Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, who said she “and thousands of others across the country will be impressed by her courage and determination”. She added that it is “up to all of us to send a message to women and girls who experience sexual violence: the shame is not yours. Women like Mia are leading the charge, but we can and must do more to make this a moment of change.”

The latter’s allegation was reported to the Met Police, who said the investigation into the alleged rape was still ongoing.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Officers began an investigation in January 2026 after receiving an allegation of rape.

“Detectives have sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service to determine the best way to proceed, and officers have been advised that further information is required before a charging decision can be made.

“This investigation is still ongoing. We understand that the delay has been distressing for this victim-survivor. However, we have focused on presenting the best evidence possible.”

The CPS said: “The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work closely with investigators to provide advice and ensure cases progress as quickly as possible. »