British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered in the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union, but he has not made the evidence public.
Speaking on The Rest Is Politics: Leading podcast, Burnham said he asked about Russian involvement after entering Downing Street in July and was told that interference had occurred, according to the Associated Press.
Burnham has not publicly identified the evidence supporting his account or explained how Russia interfered. His remarks do not establish that Russian activity changed the result.
Government says the result remains legitimate
Downing Street later said the referendum result remained legitimate. Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said on Monday, 12 October, that there was no evidence of successful interference, Reuters reported.
The 2020 government response to the Russia report also said it had seen no evidence of successful interference. A claim that Russia tried to influence the campaign is different from proof that it changed the outcome.
Parliament called for an assessment
The Intelligence and Security Committee’s 2020 Russia report said it had not received a post-referendum assessment of Russian attempts to interfere. It called for an assessment and a public summary. The committee said it had not tried to measure the effect of any interference on the vote.
Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in other countries’ elections and referendums, the Associated Press reported.
Warnings for other European countries
Burnham said greater openness about foreign interference could help voters in Germany and France recognise similar risks. He also discussed concerns about Russian influence in German politics following talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Associated Press reported.
Britain’s relationship with the EU
Burnham’s remarks come as his government considers Britain’s future relationship with the European Union. Trivane News previously reported that he had raised options ranging from closer economic arrangements to eventual EU membership, without announcing a decision to rejoin.
The latest comments concern the integrity of the 2016 referendum, rather than a new decision on EU membership or a proposal to rerun the vote.
For background, read Trivane News’ report on Burnham’s EU options.
