British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered in the United Kingdom’s 2016 Brexit referendum, renewing allegations of Moscow’s involvement in British politics.
Burnham said he sought clarification on possible Russian interference after taking office in July and received confirmation that meddling had occurred.
“I asked the question coming to Downing Street: ‘Was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia?’ And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was,” he said in an interview on The Rest Is Politics podcast broadcast on Monday.
However, a UK parliamentary committee concluded in 2020 that it could not confirm Russian interference in the referendum. The committee also criticised the Conservative government at the time for failing to investigate the allegations adequately.
Junior Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty told LBC radio on Monday that Russia had attempted to interfere in the vote but had not succeeded.
Burnham also raised concerns about alleged Russian links to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, saying German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had told him the party was linked to Moscow and was, he believed, receiving Russian funding.
“There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics,” Burnham said, urging Britain to help voters in Germany and France understand what he described as political interference by hostile foreign powers.
Last month, Burnham told world leaders at the United Nations that Britain had evidence Russia attempted to interfere in the country’s 2019 general election. He has also announced plans for a disinformation centre to counter hostile state information campaigns.
Later on Monday, the prime minister was scheduled to address Parliament and call for closer relations with the European Union, reopening debate over Brexit, which Britain formally completed in 2020.
Burnham’s office said he would argue that failing to explore a new agreement with the EU would be a dereliction of duty.
He was also expected to tell lawmakers that Brexit had done more harm than good and that the existing relationship with the bloc was insufficient for Britain’s needs.
