'Clear' Russia interfered in Brexit vote, says Burnham

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that the United Kingdom is certain Russian interference took place in the Brexit referendum. Upon assuming office in the summer, Burnham inquired with officials about potential Russian involvement in the 2016 EU referendum vote, to which he received a clear affirmative response. He emphasized the importance of documenting this fact to assist voters in Germany and France in comprehending that certain political influence may be driven by adversaries, especially as far-right parties gain prominence in those nations.

The Intelligence and Security Committee reported in 2020 that the government had not adequately evaluated the potential impact of Russian state-run media and troll accounts on the EU referendum. Speaking on the Rest Is Politics podcast, Burnham recounted his conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, discussing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's challenges, suggesting that they are connected to Russia and receiving funding from the Kremlin.

Burnham also highlighted misinformation and disinformation originating from Russia that targets German politics. During a UN General Assembly speech, Burnham previously acknowledged evidence indicating Moscow's attempts to interfere with the 2019 German general election. He urged his audience to recognize the significance of these issues and stated that the UK had been insufficiently proactive in informing the public about the extent of foreign interference in political processes.

In his recent Labour conference address, Burnham outlined plans to forge political consensus on the UK's future relationship with the European Union, leaving the door open for a potential future manifesto commitment to rejoin the bloc.