Burnham Says Russia Interfered in 2016 Brexit Vote, a Break With Past Governments

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said it is clear that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union. According to ABC News, the intervention is believed to be the first time a British prime minister has publicly acknowledged such interference in the Brexit vote.

Burnham did not say who gave him the assessment, what evidence it rests on, or whether any interference changed the outcome, The Guardian reported.

What Burnham said on the podcast

Burnham made the remarks on the podcast "The Rest is Politics." ABC News reported that excerpts were released Sunday and that the full episode is scheduled for Monday. He said that when he became prime minister in July, he asked his advisers whether Russia had interfered in the referendum.

"I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was," he said. He argued that putting this on the record would help voters in Germany and France understand that some of the politics they face is instigated by Russia. He added that Britain has been too much on the back foot and has not informed people enough about efforts to disrupt political processes from overseas.

Russia has long said it does not meddle in other countries’ elections or referendums, according to ABC News.

How this differs from earlier British positions

The Guardian said Burnham’s comments depart from past Conservative governments, which insisted there was no evidence of successful Russian interference in the referendum.

In 2020, Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee criticized the government and intelligence agencies for failing to properly investigate possible interference. The cross-party committee found that ministers had not sought a full assessment of Moscow’s activities. This was despite evidence of attempts to influence British politics through Russian state-backed media and social media accounts, the committee said. It also noted that the U.S. had carried out an investigation after the 2016 presidential election, while the UK government had provided no post-referendum assessment.

The committee said it matters whether a hostile state tried to influence a democratic process, whether or not the effort succeeded.

The German connection

Burnham said he discussed the Alternative for Germany party, known as the AfD, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a visit to Berlin this week. According to Burnham, Merz said the party is clearly linked to Russia and that he believed it was funded by Russia. Burnham said he told Merz that Britain needs to support Germany in confronting that threat. He also said misinformation and disinformation are emanating from Russia into German politics. These are Burnham’s accounts of the conversation; neither source includes a response from Merz or the AfD.

Last month, Burnham told the UN General Assembly that there was evidence Moscow had tried to interfere in the 2019 general election, The Guardian reported.

Why it matters for voters and for UK policy

The statement changes the official line on a long-running question about the 2016 vote. It also signals that the government wants to be more open about foreign attempts to shape public debate. Burnham framed the issue as one for voters across Europe, particularly as leaders there deal with the rise of the far right.

The Guardian said the UK is developing a National Centre for Information Defence to detect and disrupt hostile state information campaigns aimed at undermining British democracy. Downing Street said it is working with Germany on a partnership to counter hybrid threats, including hostile activities that endanger both countries’ security and prosperity.

A Downing Street spokesperson said national security is the first duty of any government. The spokesperson said the government is strengthening the National Security Act, the resilience of institutions and critical infrastructure, border security, and police and intelligence agencies.

ABC News noted that the comments come as UK intelligence agencies warn of a growing threat of Russian interference in British democratic institutions.

What to watch next

The full podcast episode is due Monday and may include more detail. For now, the evidence behind the assessment and any effect on the referendum result have not been disclosed.

Sources: The Guardian, ABC News