'The Foreign Secretary should be ashamed': Kemi hits out at Ed Miliband for 'cosying up' to Russell Brand as he sought to be PM

Published: 10:12 EST, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 10:46 EST, 11 November 2026 Ed Miliband should be 'ashamed' of 'cosying up' to disgraced comic Russell Brand in an attempt to win political power, Kemi Badenoch said today.The Tory leader used Prime Minister's Questions to hit out at the Foreign Secretary, who has so far remained silent over his decision to woo the comic to win Labour votes from his fans.Mr Miliband recorded an interview in the now-disgraced comedian's flat before the general election in 2015, when he was party leader.It was posted online as part of Brand's show The Trews, as he tried to win over young voters in his ultimately doomed attempt to become prime minister. At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch attacked 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'.The Tory leader used Prime Minister's Questions to hit out at the Foreign Secretary, who has so far remained silent over his decision to woo the comic and get his fans to vote Labour At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch attacked Mr Miliband, who is currently at the Cop31 environment summit in TurkeyBrand, 51, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years on Monday for raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three TV and radio workers during his rise to international fame.Responding at PMQs, Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not address Mrs Badenoch's comments about Mr Miliband.He said: 'We will take a further decision on Rosebank in due course, as well as building a renewable energy future.'Downing Street later defended Mr Miliband, repeating Education Secretary Lucy Powell's assertion earlier this week that the interview took place a 'long time ago'.Ms Powell, who was vice chairwoman of Labour's election campaign in 2015, earlier this week said the recording took place in a 'different era' when Brand had a 'powerful platform'. She was ridiculed for saying 'We weren't in the social media age at the time' so it was hard to find out information about people, despite Mr Miliband doing the interview to benefit from Brand's social media following. Asked whether the Foreign Secretary should address his previous contact with the rapist comedian, the Prime Minister's political spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister was asked about this on Friday in an interview with the BBC.'As he said, it's not always the case that people know everything about people in public life, but what is important is where there is wrongdoing, it is exposed.'The PM also praised the bravery of the victims, saying credit to the victims, huge credit for the courage it's taken, but also for the journalists that have exposed this.'Asked whether Mr Burnham had asked Mr Miliband for an explanation of his contact with Brand, which took place after he had been sacked from his BBC Radio 2 show for leaving a series of lewd messages on actor Andrew Sachs's answerphone about a romantic liaison with his granddaughter, the spokesman pointed to Ms Powell's remarks earlier in the week.