Andy Burnham has claimed that Britain has evidence which shows that Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum.
The UK Prime Minister said he asked for an assessment of the Kremlin’s role in the 2016 vote when he entered Downing Street over the summer, and was given “the clear answer that, yes, there was”.
It is the first time the British Government has accused Russia of using social media disinformation for political interference.
Speaking on the Rest is Politics podcast, Burnham said he believed it was important to put Russia’s role “clearly on the record” and to help voters in Germany and France – where far-right parties are on course for victory – to understand that “some of this politics is instigated via our enemies”.
He told the podcast: “I asked the question coming to Downing Street, well was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? 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.
“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.”
Burnham’s accusation will fuel speculation that he plans to use alleged Russian interference in 2016 as a pretext for rerunning the referendum.
During his conference speech last month, Burnham announced he would review all options for Britain’s future relationship with the EU, including full membership of the bloc or re-entering the customs union or single market.
Those plans, which would break a Labour manifesto pledge if pursued before the next election, have been interpreted as an attempt to win back Liberal Democrat voters, and set a major dividing line with the Conservatives and Reform.
Burnham has previously hinted at the idea that Russia was responsible for the Brexit result, telling an audience at the United Nations General Assembly that the Kremlin interfered in the 2019 general election, and had sought to spread “division” and “despair” on social media.
Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee found in 2020 that the Government failed to assess fully the impact that Russian state-run media and “troll” accounts could have had on the EU referendum.
Burnham said on the podcast, which will be released on Monday, that he spoke to Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, about the rise of the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party when the pair met in Berlin last week.
As Merz struggles with the challenge of recent regional election successes for the AfD, Burnham said: “One thing I did say to Chancellor Merz is we need to support you in taking on the threat that you face and particularly the type of politics that you’re facing.
“You know he was saying to me that the AfD are clearly linked to Russia, funded, I believe.”
He added: “There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics.”
Responding to his comments about the EU referendum, the Conservatives said Burnham was trying to question the “authenticity” of the 2016 vote.
Wendy Morton, a shadow Foreign Office minister, said: “The threats from hostile nations come in different shapes and sizes, and attempts to interfere in our elections are particularly concerning.
“However, the result of the Brexit referendum is legitimate and its authenticity should not be questioned. The public made their decision and Andy Burnham’s attempts to turn back the clock to 2016 run against the best interests of our country.
“Measures to protect our democracy are welcome but they must not favour one side or the other.”
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