British lawmakers are weighing changes to the legal age of sexual consent following fresh allegations against Russell Brand, GVA reported.
Louise Haigh, the de facto deputy prime minister, told The Sunday Times that Mia Latter’s account of being raped at age 16 warrants thorough review.
“It would clearly be a massive step to change the age of consent, but it merits thorough consideration and scrutiny. I completely understand why she is asking for it,” Haigh told The Sunday Times, calling Latter’s story heartbreaking.
Brand is currently awaiting sentencing at Southwark Crown Court after a jury convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four different women between 2004 and 2009, Newsmonkey – reported.
Metropolitan Police detectives opened an active investigation in January 2026 regarding the allegations brought by Latter, who waived her anonymity.
“We understand that the delay is painful for this victim, but we want to present the best possible evidence,” a police spokesperson said, as cited by GVA.
Latter urged lawmakers to establish a tiered regulatory framework that criminalizes sexual relationships between adults and teenagers aged 16 or 17.
“I think we can all agree that adults should not be having sexual relationships with children under eighteen. That really doesn’t seem like a gigantic step,” Latter said to GVA.
Brand denied all allegations when they initially surfaced in 2023, while his defense during legal proceedings centered on his history of promiscuity.
Minister for Culture Lisa Nandy urged media companies to treat the fallout as a serious warning regarding the exploitation of young women within the entertainment sector, Newsmonkey – reported.
Haigh also announced plans to ban non-disclosure agreements in cases involving sexual harassment and discrimination.
“No victim should ever be silenced, regardless of where it happened or what connection they had to the perpetrator,” Haigh said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police are investigating a series of separate allegations against comedian David Walliams following joint reporting by The Guardian and ITV News, according to GVA. Walliams has denied any wrongdoing.
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