British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there was clear Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit vote, warning French and German voters of similar risks in upcoming elections.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned voters in France and Germany about potential Russian influence in their upcoming elections, citing what he described as "clear" interference in Britain's 2016 referendum on European Union membership. The comments were made in an interview with The Rest is Politics podcast, released on Sunday.
Burnham, who became Britain's leader in July, stated that he had received a definitive answer regarding Russian involvement in the 2016 vote. "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 said.
He did not provide specific details on how Russia interfered or the evidence supporting his claim. Burnham is the first British prime minister to openly state that there was evidence of Russian interference in the referendum, which resulted in Britons voting 52%-48% to leave the EU.
Burnham's remarks contrast with previous statements from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who campaigned to leave the EU and said in 2020 that there was no evidence of Russian interference in the referendum. Additionally, a report by parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee in 2020 found that the government failed to establish whether Russia meddled in the 2016 referendum. That same report noted that Russia had sought to influence Scotland's 2014 independence referendum, in which voters rejected independence.
Russia has previously denied meddling in the Brexit vote, characterizing Britain as gripped by anti-Russian hysteria. The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Burnham urged voters in European democracies to be better informed about efforts to disrupt their politics. "I mean, these things are important now to put clearly on the record, and I believe, help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia," he said.
Burnham's comments mark a significant shift in the official British stance on the 2016 Brexit referendum, moving from an inconclusive finding by the Intelligence and Security Committee to a direct assertion of interference by the sitting Prime Minister. This statement comes as Burnham has signaled a potential future path for Britain to rejoin the European Union, reopening debates on the country's relationship with the continent.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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