Prime Minister confirms Russian interference in 2016 Brexit referendum

Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered with the Brexit referendum and warned that similar activities were taking place in France and Germany.

The prime minister told The Rest is Politics podcast , external that upon arriving at No 10 he had asked about possible Russian interference in the 2016 vote, adding: “I’ve had the clear answer that, yes, there was.”

He said the UK had been “too much on the back foot” and had not informed the public sufficiently about the extent to which foreign actors seek to disrupt the political process.

Burnham offered no further details on the type or scale of Moscow’s activities during the referendum.

Britain Unbound, a pro‑Brexit campaign group, described the comments as a “crude attempt to undermine the legitimacy” of the 2016 vote, stating that there is no good reason to believe Russian intervention influenced the outcome and that it is insulting to suggest voters were duped.

During a visit to Germany, Burnham discussed Russian interference with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, noting that “misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics” is a concern.

He said it was important to put these matters “clearly on the record” to help voters in Germany and France understand that some political activity is instigated by Russia.

This is the first time a British prime minister has said Russia sought to sway the 2016 Brexit poll, although concerns about Kremlin influence on UK politics have existed for years.

A 2020 parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee report examined Russian interventions in UK elections and referendums. It stopped short of concluding whether Russia attempted to influence the EU referendum result but criticised successive governments for failing to fully assess or counter the threat.

The Russian foreign minister dismissed the report as “Russophobia”, and a Kremlin spokesman said Russia does not meddle in other countries’ elections.

In 2019, the then‑Conservative government said it was “almost certain that Russian actors sought to interfere” in that year’s general election.

BBC Verify has tracked Russian‑linked disinformation campaigns, including AI‑generated fake videos impersonating journalists and news organisations reporting on Ukraine. One fabricated website claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bought a mansion owned by King Charles at a discounted price.

Earlier this year, Vijay Rangarajan, head of the UK Electoral Commission, told MPs that Russian deep‑fake videos had been “used extensively in elections around the world” and added that “there is no reason to assume Britain would be an exception.”

Last month, speaking at the United Nations, Burnham accused Russian agencies of using “every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people’s fears.” He announced plans for a new centre to “stem the poisonous tide” of disinformation.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We are focused on ensuring our citizens and our institutions are protected from foreign powers and their proxies seeking to threaten lives and undermine our democratic values. We are doing this by strengthening our powers through the National Security Act, strengthening the resilience of our institutions and critical national infrastructure, strengthening our borders, and strengthening our police and intelligence agencies.”

Source link