'They did interfere': UK PM Andy Burnham alleges Russian interference in Brexit vote, warns of France, Germany

United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham has claimed that Russia did interfere with the Brexit referendum and warned that similar activities were taking place in France and Germany. While he did not provide any evidence of his claims, he said that it is important to put these things on record. It is the first time a UK prime minister has said Russia sought to sway the 2016 Brexit poll, even as Russia has denied such claims in the past.

Speaking in an interview, due to be released on Monday (Oct 12), Burnham said: "I think we've been too much on the back foot on that actually and we haven't informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas," he added. He said that he had discussed the problem of Russian interference with Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to Germany earlier this week. “There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics. 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.”

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This comes after in 2020, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee published a report into Russian interventions in UK elections and referendums. In response, the Russian foreign minister dismissed the report as “Russophobia" with Kremlin spokesman saying that Russia did not meddle in other countries' elections.

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UK PM's stance on Brexit

Earlier in September, Burnham said that the government could consider rejoining the EU as part of a longer-term review of Britain’s relationship with the bloc. He made the remarks while speaking to BBC, and said that he will examine "what is doable." Burnham said he had previously supported rejoining the EU within his lifetime, but that this was "not necessarily" his position now. He also said that Brexit arrangements had caused "more harm than good.” Britain formally exited EU in 2020, becoming the first nation to leave the group, thus ending 47 years of membership.