Russia interfered in Brexit referendum, British PM says

In short: 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Russia interfered in the 2016 EU Brexit referendum.

He did not reveal how Russia interfered in the referendum or provide evidence.

He said it was important to warn Germany and France of the danger.

Russia clearly interfered in Britain's vote to leave the European Union, according to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

In excerpts from The Rest is Politics podcast released Sunday, Mr Burnham said he asked his advisers after becoming prime minister in July whether Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum.

"I asked the question coming to Downing Street, 'Was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia?'" he said.

"I've had the clear answer that yes, there was.

"These things are important now to put clearly on the record and I believe help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia."

Mr Burnham did not spell out how Russia interfered in the referendum and did not provide evidence.

British voters elected to leave the EU in 2016, with 52 per cent voting for Brexit compared with 48 per cent.

However Mr Burnham last month said he could campaign to bring the UK back into the EU at the next general election.

Russia has long said it does not meddle in other countries' elections or referendums. 

The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

UK intelligence agencies have warned about the increasing threat of Russian interference in Britain's democratic institutions. 

Mr Burnham's comments on the podcast are believed to be the first time a British prime minister has publicly acknowledged Russian interference in the Brexit vote.

Mr Burnham said he spoke to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about possible links between Russia and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party when the two leaders met last week in Berlin.

"He was saying to me that the AfD are clearly linked to Russia, funded I believe," Mr Burnham said. 

"There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics."

The UK parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee found in 2020 that the government failed to fully assess the impact Russian state-run media and "troll" accounts could have had on the EU referendum.