UK prime minister says Russia interfered in Brexit vote

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was «clear» that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, becoming the first British prime minister to make such a claim publicly, the BBC reported.

Speaking to «The Rest Is Politics» podcast, Burnham said he had asked about possible Russian interference after taking office this summer and was told that it had occurred. He did not provide details about the nature or extent of the alleged interference.

Burnham also said the U.K. had not done enough to inform the public about attempts by foreign actors to disrupt political processes. He said he had discussed Russian interference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a recent visit to Germany, pointing to misinformation and disinformation allegedly originating from Russia and affecting European politics.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied allegations that Moscow interferes in other countries’ political affairs.

In late September, Burnham did not rule out the U.K. rejoining the EU. At the time, he argued that the government should assess the pros and cons of various options regarding relations with the bloc, including closer economic integration.