Politics · United Kingdom · 7 hrs ago
Burnham says Brexit vote was legitimate despite Russian interference claims
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Downing Street says he believes the referendum result was legitimate and that Russian efforts did not change it.
The government has not provided details about the nature or extent of the alleged activity.
Burnham also said Russia is spreading misinformation in German politics and warned that overseas actors seek to disrupt democratic processes.
Nigel Farage, a prominent Brexit campaigner, denied that Russia interfered and called Burnham a liar.
Conservative politicians said his remarks risk casting doubt on the vote, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey backed him.
The government has not announced any further action on the claims.
Andy Burnham believes the 2016 Brexit referendum result was legitimate, Downing Street said.
The prime minister said he had been told there was Russian interference in the vote.
Downing Street said Russia had likely tried to use the referendum to its advantage but did not influence the result.
Nigel Farage denied Russian interference and called the prime minister a liar.
The Conservatives said the prime minister risked casting doubt on the vote.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Downing Street, and political figures including Nigel Farage and the Conservatives.
- What
- Burnham said he had been told there was Russian interference in the Brexit referendum; Downing Street said the result was legitimate.
- When
- The referendum was held in 2016. Burnham's comments and the responses were reported on Monday.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- Burnham said he had asked about interference after arriving in Downing Street. The sources do not state why Russia allegedly sought to interfere.
Andy Burnham and Downing Street
Nigel Farage
Russian interference
Andy Burnham and Downing Street
Burnham said he had been told there was Russian interference in the referendum; Downing Street said Russia likely tried to use it to its advantage.
Nigel Farage
Farage said there was no Russian interference.
Referendum result
Andy Burnham and Downing Street
Downing Street said the referendum result was legitimate and that the prime minister accepted it.
Nigel Farage
Farage called the prime minister a liar over his claims about interference.
The Brexit referendum took place.
Burnham said he asked whether there had been Russian interference and was told there had.
Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty said Russia had been attempting to interfere in a series of democratic events.
Downing Street said the referendum result was legitimate and that the prime minister accepted it.
- Referendum year
- 2016
- Prime minister
- Andy Burnham
- Downing Street position
- The referendum result was legitimate
- Reform UK leader
- Nigel Farage
What people are saying
I've had the clear answer that, yes, there was.
Yes we believe the referendum result was legitimate.
There was no Russian interference - the Russian hoax has run all the way through this
risks sowing doubt about the result of a professionally-run, independently-monitored democratic vote
Sources
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