Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Burnham Says Russia Interfered in 2016 Brexit Vote
Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 vote about whether the United Kingdom should leave the European Union.
He said he was told there was interference, but he did not explain what Russia did or share the evidence.
He made the claim in an interview released on Sunday.
Burnham wants voters in France and Germany to be alert to efforts to influence their politics.
Russia has denied meddling in the Brexit vote.
Boris Johnson previously said there was no evidence of Russian interference.
A parliamentary report in 2020 said the government had not established whether interference happened.
In the referendum, 52 percent voted to leave and 48 percent voted to remain.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
He said he was given a clear answer that interference occurred but offered no details about the evidence or method.
Burnham made the comments in an interview released Sunday and urged voters in France and Germany to understand foreign influence efforts.
A 2020 parliamentary report said the government had failed to establish whether Russia meddled in the Brexit referendum.
Russia has previously denied meddling, while former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in 2020 there was no evidence of interference.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham; Russia is alleged to have interfered.
- What
- Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, without detailing the evidence or method.
- When
- He made the comments in an interview released Sunday; the referendum was held in 2016.
- Where
- The United Kingdom; Burnham also referred to voters in France and Germany.
- Why
- Burnham said he wanted voters in European democracies to understand efforts to disrupt or influence their politics.
Interference alleged
Interference denied or unestablished
Whether Russia interfered in the Brexit vote
Interference alleged
Burnham said he was told there was Russian interference in the 2016 referendum.
Interference denied or unestablished
Russia has previously denied meddling, and Boris Johnson said in 2020 there was no evidence. A parliamentary report said the government had failed to establish whether meddling occurred.
- Referendum result
- 52% voted to leave the EU; 48% voted to remain.
- Burnham's claim
- He said he had received a clear answer that Russia interfered.
- Evidence details
- Burnham did not describe the evidence or explain how interference occurred.
- Parliamentary report
- A 2020 report said the government had failed to establish whether Russia meddled in the referendum.
- Russia's response
- Russia had previously denied meddling in the Brexit vote.
- Johnson's position
- Boris Johnson said in 2020 there was no evidence of Russian interference.
- Other referendum cited
- The 2020 report said Russia had sought to influence Scotland's 2014 independence referendum; voters rejected independence.