UK Prime Minister Burnham says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote
publishers 54articles 57first reported 11 Oct, 10:56 UTCdeveloping since 11 Oct · 9 editionstop 25 #16
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he had been told that Russia interfered in the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union, becoming the first serving UK prime minister to publicly make that assertion.
“I asked the question coming to Downing Street: Was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was,” Burnham told *The Rest Is Politics* podcast. He did not provide evidence or details about the alleged activity, or say whether it affected the result. UK voters backed leaving the EU by 52% to 48%.
A 2020 report by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee said the government had failed to commission a full assessment of potential Russian interference, leaving the committee unable to determine its extent. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in 2020 that there was no evidence Russia had influenced the vote. Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in foreign elections and referendums.
Junior foreign minister Stephen Doughty said Russia had attempted to interfere in the referendum but had not succeeded.
Burnham also warned voters in France and Germany about Russian efforts to disrupt democratic politics. He said misinformation and disinformation from Russia were entering German politics and referred to possible Russian links to the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which he had discussed with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
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Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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