UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said it is clear Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, after seeking answers on the Kremlin's involvement when he entered Downing Street.
Key facts
- Andy Burnham said it is clear Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
- According to Al Jazeera, this is the first time a UK prime minister has publicly acknowledged Russia's interference in the vote.
- Burnham said he asked whether Moscow had tried to influence the referendum upon entering No 10.
- He said he received confirmation that interference had taken place.
- Burnham did not reveal who gave him the 'clear answer'.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said it is clear that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, according to reports from the Guardian and Al Jazeera.
Burnham said he had sought answers on the Kremlin’s involvement in the vote when he entered Downing Street. The Guardian reported that he asked whether Moscow had attempted to influence the referendum and received a confirmation that it had.
According to Al Jazeera, the claim marks the first time a UK prime minister has publicly acknowledged Russia’s interference in the vote to leave the EU.
The Guardian reported that, while Burnham said he had received a ‘clear answer’ that Russia meddled, he did not reveal who had given him that answer.
The comments draw renewed attention to long-running questions about foreign interference in one of the most consequential votes in modern British history. The sources do not provide further detail on the nature or scale of the alleged interference.
Why it matters
A sitting prime minister publicly stating that Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum is a significant political development, given how closely the 2016 vote has shaped UK policy. According to Al Jazeera, no prior UK prime minister has made such a public acknowledgement, which could reopen debate about the integrity of the referendum.
Frequently asked questions
What did Andy Burnham say about Russia and Brexit?
Burnham said it is clear Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. According to the Guardian, he asked whether Moscow had attempted to influence the vote when he entered Downing Street and received confirmation that it had.
Is this the first time a UK prime minister has said this?
According to Al Jazeera, the claim marks the first time a UK prime minister has publicly acknowledged Russia's interference in the vote to leave the EU.
Did Burnham say who confirmed the interference?
No. The Guardian reported that Burnham did not reveal who gave him the 'clear answer' that Russia meddled in the referendum.