Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
Burnham says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote, but not successfully
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, based on an answer he says he received after entering Downing Street.
He made the claim in a podcast interview while warning that Russia seeks to disrupt politics in other countries.
Burnham gave no details of the evidence or what the interference involved.
His office says there is no evidence that Russia successfully interfered, and that the referendum result remains legitimate.
In the 2016 vote, Britons chose to leave the European Union, and the UK left the bloc in 2020.
A 2020 parliamentary intelligence committee report said the government had not sought or seen evidence of successful interference, and had not made a formal assessment after the referendum.
Burnham’s statement is the first public acknowledgement of Russian interference by a UK prime minister, while Russia denies meddling in elections or referendums.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, citing an answer he received after entering Downing Street.
Burnham did not identify who gave him that answer or describe the evidence or form of interference.
A government minister said there was no evidence Russia successfully interfered, and Burnham’s office said the referendum result remained legitimate.
Russia has denied meddling in the Brexit vote.
A 2020 parliamentary report said the government had not established whether Russia meddled in the referendum.
- Who
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered; a government minister and Burnham’s office said the result was not successfully influenced and remained legitimate.
- What
- Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, but did not provide details or evidence.
- When
- Burnham made the remarks in an interview released on Sunday, October 11, 2026. A minister clarified the government’s position on Monday, October 12.
- Where
- The referendum was held in the United Kingdom. Burnham made the remarks on The Rest Is Politics podcast.
- Why
- Burnham said he wanted to put the issue on the record and help voters in Germany and France understand efforts to disrupt politics from overseas.
Andy Burnham
Russian government
Interference in the Brexit vote
Andy Burnham
Burnham said he received a clear answer that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum.
Russian government
Russia has denied meddling in the Brexit vote.
Voters in the UK referendum supported leaving the European Union.
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee published a report saying the government had not seen or sought evidence of successful interference in UK democratic processes.
Excerpts of Burnham’s interview with The Rest Is Politics were released, including his claim that Russia interfered in the referendum.
Junior foreign office minister Stephen Doughty said there was no evidence Russia had successfully interfered.
- Referendum year
- 2016
- Referendum result
- 52% to 48% for leaving, according to The Hindu; 51.9% for leaving, according to Meduza
- Parliamentary report
- Published in July 2020
- Burnham’s claim
- He said he received a clear answer that Russia interfered
- Government position
- No evidence Russia successfully interfered; the result remains legitimate
What people are saying
I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was
And we haven’t informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas.
They haven’t succeeded.
liar
Sources
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