UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham accused Russia of interfering in the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to a report published by The Guardian on Sunday.
Speaking on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Burnham said he had sought clarification after entering Downing Street and received confirmation that Russian interference had occurred during the referendum campaign.
However, he did not identify the source of this assessment, provide supporting evidence or explain whether the alleged interference affected the referendum’s outcome.
Burnham emphasized the importance of greater transparency regarding attempts by foreign governments to influence British politics. He argued that publicly documenting such interference could also help voters in Germany and France recognize the potential role of hostile foreign actors, particularly Russia, in shaping political developments.
He acknowledged that the British government had not adequately informed the public about the scale of foreign efforts to undermine the country’s political processes.
Burnham also discussed concerns about Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party during a visit to Berlin earlier in the week, where he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
According to Burnham, Merz expressed concern about the party’s alleged connections with Russia. The British prime minister said he had assured the German leader that the UK should support Germany in addressing the political challenges it faces.
Burnham further claimed that the AfD had links to Russian funding, although he did not provide evidence for the allegation. He also accused Russia of actively spreading misinformation and disinformation within German politics.
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