Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Burnham says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union.
He said he asked advisers about possible Russian involvement after taking office in July and was told that interference had occurred.
Burnham did not say what evidence supported that answer, describe the activity or say whether it changed the result.
A parliamentary committee said in 2020 that the government had failed to fully assess the possible impact of Russian state media and online accounts on the vote.
The committee did not reach a definitive conclusion on whether Russia tried to influence the referendum’s outcome.
Burnham says he wants the issue put on the record as European countries face concerns about foreign interference and disinformation.
He has also warned of Russian disinformation in German politics and discussed the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
He said advisers gave him a clear answer that Russian interference had occurred after he asked about it on becoming prime minister.
Burnham did not disclose the evidence behind the assessment or whether any interference affected the referendum result.
He said he wanted to put the claim on the record and warn voters in Germany and France about Russian influence.
A 2020 parliamentary committee criticised the government for failing to fully assess potential Russian activity around the referendum.
- Who
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered. Russia has long denied meddling in other countries’ elections or referendums.
- What
- Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He did not say whether the activity affected the result.
- When
- The referendum was held in 2016. Burnham made his comments on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- The referendum was in the UK. Burnham discussed his comments on The Rest is Politics podcast.
- Why
- Burnham said putting the claim on the record could help voters in Germany and France understand the threat of Russian influence.
Burnham
Britain Unbound
Interference
Burnham
Burnham said he received a clear answer that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum.
Britain Unbound
Britain Unbound called his comments an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the 2016 decision.
Effect on result
Burnham
Burnham did not say whether interference affected the result.
Britain Unbound
Britain Unbound said there was no good reason to believe Russian intervention influenced the outcome.
I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was
I think we've been too much on the back foot on that actually and we haven't informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas
another crude attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the decision that the British people made in 2016
The UK held a referendum on whether to leave the European Union.
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee criticised the government for failing to fully assess potential Russian activity around the referendum.
Burnham said he became prime minister and asked advisers whether Russia had interfered in the referendum.
Burnham publicly said he had received a clear answer that Russia interfered.
- Referendum
- 2016 vote on whether the UK should leave the European Union
- Prime minister
- Andy Burnham
- Committee report
- Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee reported in 2020
- Podcast
- The Rest is Politics
- German chancellor
- Friedrich Merz
Sources
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