UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that Russia "clearly" interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, while warning voters in France and Germany about a similar threat.
In an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast released on Sunday, Burnham said: "I asked the question when I got to Number 10 Downing Street: Was there Russian interference in the 2016 referendum? And I got a clear answer that there was."
Burnham's remarks mark the first time a British prime minister has publicly acknowledged Russian interference in the country's vote to leave the European Union. However, he did not provide evidence or further details about the allegation.
According to Burnham, "these things are now important to put clearly on the record, and I believe they will help voters in Germany and France understand that part of this politics was initiated through our enemies, specifically Russia."
He said he discussed possible links between Russia and the far-right Alternative for Germany party with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz when the two leaders met in Berlin last week.
In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Burnham also condemned Russian attempts to interfere in the UK's 2019 general election.
According to a 2020 report by the UK Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, the government did not request an in-depth assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 referendum. However, the report confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in Western democracies or in other countries' elections and referendums, and has accused Britain of being in the grip of "anti-Russian hysteria."
UK Reviews Brexit
Last month, Burnham argued that Britain should reconsider its options for its future relationship with the EU, including rejoining the bloc, sparking more decisive debate more than a decade after the historic vote.
He argued that Britain's exit from the bloc failed to deliver on Brexiteers' promise to "take back control," instead leaving Britain weaker on the economy and immigration.
