The Prime Minister, at the time an opposition frontbencher, said in a message on social media: “Depressing to see media mission to discredit someone who stops playing their game & uses celebrity to help others. Keep going @rustyrockets [Brand’s social media handle]”
When asked about Labour’s support for Brand at the time, Mr Burnham said: “Well, over a decade ago. And all I can say is, I had no idea of the full extent of what he was doing or what he went on to do.
“His crimes are horrific. He’s rightly been held to account, justice for the victims and that is the right course that’s been taken here. It’s not always the case that people know everything about people in public life, but what is important is that where there is wrongdoing, it is exposed.
“And as I say again, credit to the victims, huge credit, the courage that it’s taken, but also the journalists who have exposed this.”