Politics · United Kingdom · 8 hrs ago
UK prime minister says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 vote on whether the country should leave the European Union.
He said he was told this after asking about Russian interference when he took office in July.
Burnham did not explain what Russia did or identify the evidence behind his claim.
A 2020 parliamentary intelligence report said the UK government had been unable to determine whether Russia interfered in the referendum.
The vote ended with 52% supporting Brexit and 48% opposing it.
The government says there is no evidence Russia successfully influenced the result and maintains that the outcome was legitimate.
Burnham raised the issue while warning voters in France and Germany about Russian attempts to influence politics, but no further action is described.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
His government later said there was no evidence that Russia successfully interfered and that the result was legitimate.
Burnham did not explain how Russia interfered or identify evidence for his claim.
The UK voted 52% to 48% to leave the European Union.
Russia has previously denied interfering in the vote.
- Who
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the referendum. The government said Russia did not successfully interfere.
- What
- Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit vote. His government said the result remained legitimate.
- When
- The referendum took place in 2016. Burnham made his comments in an interview published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The referendum was in the United Kingdom.
- Why
- Burnham raised the issue while warning voters in France and Germany about Russian-backed efforts to influence their politics.
Andy Burnham
UK government
Whether Russia interfered
Andy Burnham
Burnham said he was told there had been Russian interference in the referendum.
UK government
The government said there was no evidence Russia had successfully interfered.
Effect on the result
Andy Burnham
Burnham did not say whether interference changed the outcome.
UK government
The government said the result was legitimate and that Russia was unsuccessful.
A UK parliamentary intelligence report later found that Russia had tried to influence Scotland’s independence referendum.
UK voters backed leaving the European Union by 52% to 48%.
A parliamentary report said the UK government had been unable to determine whether Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum.
Burnham took office as UK prime minister.
Burnham’s remarks about Russian interference were reported, and a government minister said Russia had not been successful.
- Referendum vote
- 52% backed leaving the EU; 48% opposed
- Referendum year
- 2016
- Prime minister
- Andy Burnham
- Parliamentary report
- Published in 2020; said the government could not determine whether Russia interfered
- Other referendum cited
- Scotland’s 2014 independence vote
What people are saying
I asked the following question when I arrived at Downing Street: was there Russian interference in the 2016 referendum? And I received the clear answer that yes, there was.
They were not successful.
Sources
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