PM says it is 'clear' Russia interfered with Brexit vote
He says voters were not "sufficiently" informed about how foreign actors sought to disrupt UK democracy.
Former Prime Minister Andy Burnham has asserted that Russia meddled in the Brexit referendum, according to an interview set to air on The Rest is Politics podcast. Upon assuming office, Burnham inquired about potential Russian interference in the 2016 vote, to which he received a clear confirmation. He expressed concern that Britain had been too passive in addressing this issue, failing to adequately inform the public about the extent of foreign attempts to disrupt the political process.
While not elaborating on the specifics of Russian activities during the Brexit referendum, Burnham emphasized that Russia's interference was not isolated to the UK, citing similar disinformation campaigns in France and Germany. Britain Unbound, a pro-Brexit group, dismissed Burnham's claims, arguing that there was no conclusive evidence linking Russian intervention to the referendum's outcome.
The prime minister's remarks come on the heels of the UK Intelligence and Security Committee's report in 2020, which highlighted Russian interference in UK elections and referendums but did not definitively link Russia to the Brexit vote. Despite this, Burnham argued that it was crucial to acknowledge these threats and inform voters in Germany and France about the foreign influence on their political processes.
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