The government is “considering” staggering the age of consent following the scandal over Russell Brand, a minister has confirmed.
It comes after a woman waived her right to anonymity to publicly claim she was raped by Brand when she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
Mia Latter, now 37, told The Sunday Times she was mistreated by the comedian when he was 30, and called for the introduction of a staggered age of consent.
Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault this month, and is now serving 10 and a half year prison term.
The Metropolitan Police also announced it was investigating comedian and children’s author David Walliams over a series of “serious” sex offence allegations this week.
Walliams denies any wrongdoing.
Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden told Sky News on Sunday: “I think the whole country last week has been appalled by the abuse of power by powerful men and a big age gap can be a part of that, can be a factor in that.”
Asked if the government would consider a staggered age of consent, he said: “There will be a number of issues to work through and I can’t give you a final answer on that but I do think that between Russell Brand, David Walliams, what’s been put out there, people are looking at these issues in a new light.”
He added: “We probably will consider it but we can’t give you a definite answer at the moment.
“What we’ll definitely do is think about whatever we can do to help people at the wrong end of these abuses of power. We’re already changing the nature of NDAs, which are used to silence people, in the workplace on these issues.
“People have a right. Young women have a right to feel safe at work, to come in and do their job, and not be at the mercy of powerful men abusing their position and their authority.”
Andy Burnham’s deputy Louise Haigh told The Sunday Times that the “heartbreaking story” from Mia Latter means a law change should be considered.
She said: “We need to listen to Mia and other victims like her who have been through these experiences, because it’s really important that as lawmakers their experience is at the heart of what we consider.
“It clearly would be a massive step to change the age of consent, but it deserves proper consideration and scrutiny. I can absolutely understand why she is calling for it.”
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