Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Burnham says he has no evidence Russia influenced the Brexit vote
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he has no evidence that Russia influenced the 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union.
A day earlier, he had said officials told him there was evidence Russia interfered in the campaign.
Burnham said Russian actors sought to interfere in the 2019 UK general election, but that does not show they changed the referendum result.
A 2020 parliamentary intelligence committee report found no evidence of successful interference in the referendum.
The dispute matters because Burnham’s earlier comments raised questions about whether he considered the referendum result legitimate; his office said he accepts it was legitimate.
He also says the UK should pursue a closer relationship with the EU and has raised the possibility of returning to free movement after the next election.
Burnham says he will continue his effort to change the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Andy Burnham admitted he has no evidence that Russia influenced the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.
The admission came a day after he said officials had told him Russia had interfered in the campaign.
Burnham said Russian actors sought to interfere in the 2019 general election and that he believed this was unlikely to have been the first time.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demanded that Burnham publish evidence for his earlier claim.
Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage criticised Burnham’s comments, while Burnham said he had not implied the referendum result was illegitimate.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the claim and later admitted he had no evidence. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised his comments.
- What
- Burnham said he had no evidence that Russia influenced the 2016 Brexit vote, after previously saying officials had told him there was evidence of Russian interference.
- When
- The initial claim was made on Sunday; Burnham’s admission followed the next day. The article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- The claim was discussed on The Rest is Politics podcast and in the House of Commons.
- Why
- Burnham said he wanted to put the matter clearly on the record. He said he believed Russian interference in the 2019 general election was unlikely to have been the first time.
Andy Burnham
Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch
Whether Russia influenced the 2016 referendum
Andy Burnham
Burnham admitted he had no evidence that Russia influenced the vote.
Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch
Johnson and Farage accused Burnham of making false claims; Badenoch demanded evidence for his earlier statement.
What Burnham implied
Andy Burnham
Burnham said he had implied no such thing as suggesting the referendum result was illegitimate.
Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch
Badenoch said Burnham had implied that Russian interference made the result illegitimate.
Burnham said on The Rest is Politics podcast that officials had told him there was evidence Russia interfered in the referendum campaign.
Burnham admitted he had no evidence that Russia influenced the referendum outcome.
- Referendum
- 2016 EU referendum
- Burnham's admission
- He said he had no evidence that Russia influenced the vote's outcome.
- Earlier claim
- Burnham said officials told him Russia had interfered in the campaign.
- 2019 election
- Burnham said Russian actors sought to interfere in the general election.
- Publication date
- 12 October 2026
What people are saying
I've had the clear answer that yes, there was,
The Prime Minister is a liar.
publish the evidence that Russia swung the result of the 2016 referendum
Burnham's Brexit lies have come back to bite him
Sources
Related news
IMF downgrades UK growth outlook and warns Labour against unaffordable support
Farage pledges five-year suspension of UK asylum system
Burnham reopens debate over Britain’s relationship with the EU
Ministers plan cuts to heat pump grants to help fund defence spending
Burnham says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote
Early results of rail nationalisation are mixed
Swinney says pension claims issue is closed after advisers decline inquiry
Andy Burnham says he did not claim Russia influenced the Brexit vote
Emails show Derbyshire council tracked son amid dispute over his mother's gate
UK spent £1.1 trillion more on working-age welfare than infrastructure
UK to review security for public figures after Ann Widdecombe’s killing
