UK’s Burnham says Russia interfered in Brexit vote

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has acknowledged that Russia interfered in Britain's 2016 Brexit referendum, marking what is believed to be the first time a British leader has publicly admitted Moscow's role in the vote. Burnham revealed this during a recent podcast, "The Rest is Politics," where he discussed the alleged increased Russian interference in European politics.

He said he sought clarification on the Brexit issue from his advisers after assuming office in July. Burnham stated that he found it "clear" that Russia interfered in the referendum, emphasizing that it is crucial to record such interference as other European nations face similar threats to their democratic processes. He argued that recognizing Russian interference helps voters in countries like Germany and France understand that some political influences originate from their adversaries, primarily Russia.

The issue of possible Russian interference in the Brexit referendum has been previously investigated by British lawmakers. In 2020, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee concluded that the government had not adequately evaluated the potential impact of Russian state-run media and "troll" accounts on the referendum. Russia has consistently denied meddling in elections or referendums in other countries.

However, Britain Unbound, a pro-Brexit campaign group, criticized Burnham's remarks, arguing that they constitute an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the 2016 decision made by the British people. They maintained that foreign interference in British elections is unacceptable but dispute the notion that Russian intervention influenced the referendum's outcome, asserting that there is no convincing evidence to support this claim.

The controversy surrounding Russian interference in British elections has also prompted warnings from British intelligence agencies about the escalating threat of Russian interference in the country's democratic institutions. Burnham highlighted his discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about potential links between Russia and Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Merz suggested to Burnham that the AfD was clearly linked to Russia, having been funded by the aggressor state. Burnham confirmed that there is indeed misinformation and disinformation originating from Russia and affecting German politics.