Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Andy Burnham says he did not claim Russia influenced the Brexit vote
Andy Burnham said Russian actors sought to interfere in the 2016 referendum on whether the UK should leave the European Union.
He was reported as saying he had received a clear answer that Russia interfered.
The claim prompted criticism and questions about whether he meant Russia had affected the referendum result.
On Monday, Burnham told MPs he had implied no such thing.
He pointed instead to the record of Russian actors seeking to interfere in the 2019 general election and said he thought this was unlikely to have been their first attempt.
Earlier statements by the UK government and security officials said there was no evidence that foreign interference had successfully affected the referendum result.
The distinction is between trying to interfere and changing the outcome.
Andy Burnham told MPs he had not claimed that Russia influenced the 2016 Brexit referendum.
He said Russian actors had sought to interfere in the 2019 general election and that it was “inconceivable” this was their first attempt.
His comments followed a Sunday interview in which he said he had been told Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum.
Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lying, while Kemi Badenoch asked where the claim had come from.
The article cites earlier statements by officials and a parliamentary committee saying they had found no evidence that foreign interference affected the referendum result.
- Who
- Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, addressed claims about Russian interference.
- What
- Burnham said he had not claimed Russia influenced the Brexit vote. He said Russian actors sought to interfere in the 2019 general election.
- When
- Sunday and Monday; the article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Burnham made his clarification in the House of Commons.
- Why
- He was responding to criticism of comments in a Sunday interview about Russian interference in the 2016 referendum.
Andy Burnham
Critics of Burnham's comments
Whether he claimed Russia influenced the Brexit vote
Andy Burnham
Burnham told MPs he “implied no such thing” and said Russian actors sought to interfere in the 2019 election.
Critics of Burnham's comments
Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lying, and Kemi Badenoch asked where the claim had come from.
Burnham's interview with The Rest Is Politics was released, and he said he had been told Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said Russia had attempted to interfere but had not succeeded in undermining elections.
Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lying.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said Russia had not influenced UK elections, despite repeated attempts.
Kemi Badenoch raised the row in the Commons and asked where the claim had come from.
Burnham told MPs he had “implied no such thing” and cited Russian attempts to interfere in the 2019 general election.
- Referendum
- 2016 EU referendum
- Interview
- The Rest Is Politics
- Burnham's clarification
- Monday, 3:58pm
- Election cited by Burnham
- 2019 general election
- Parliamentary committee report
- July 2020
- Publication
- 13 October 2026
What people are saying
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.
It is a matter of record, Mr Speaker, thatRussian actors sought to interfere in the 2019 general election, and we think it is inconceivable that this was the first time.
where has this come from
Not stated
Sources
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