Andy Burnham has stated that UK authorities are 'clear' that there was Russian interference in the Brexit vote, marking the first confirmation from a prime minister regarding Kremlin involvement in the 2016 referendum. Burnham, who began his tenure this summer, indicated that he inquired about this matter upon entering Downing Street and received a definitive response affirming the interference.
In an upcoming episode of The Rest Is Politics podcast, Burnham suggested that the government may increase transparency concerning allegations of Russian interference, following years of ambiguity from Downing Street regarding the Kremlin's potential role in the 2016 vote.
The Observer previously reported concerns about meetings between Russian officials and senior figures from the Leave.EU campaign, including major donor Arron Banks. It is important to note that there are no allegations of wrongdoing against Banks or other Leave.EU figures.
Additionally, there have been widespread allegations that Russian government agencies utilized troll farms and fake social media accounts to sway public opinion in favor of leaving the EU prior to the referendum.
Burnham, who recently met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, mentioned discussions about the risks posed by hostile states, including a reference to the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party's links to Russia. He remarked, 'There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics.'
He reiterated his inquiry about Russian interference in the 2016 referendum, stating, 'I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.' Burnham emphasized the importance of documenting these issues to inform voters in Germany and France about foreign influences on politics.
In a speech at the UN two weeks prior, Burnham addressed Russian interference in UK democracy without specifically mentioning the Brexit vote, stating, 'We have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 general election.'
The 2020 Russia report from the intelligence and security committee (ISC) noted that it could not reach a conclusion regarding Russian interference due to a lack of post-referendum assessments. The ISC's request for further evaluation was denied by the government at the time.
The 2016 referendum was not included in Philip Rycroft’s recent review of foreign financial influence, although it was noted that the UK is a target for long-term foreign interference from Russia, China, and Iran.
In 2018, The Observer reported that leaders of Leave.EU had multiple meetings with high-ranking Russian officials between late 2015 and 2017, including a trip to Moscow in February 2016. Banks has consistently denied any connections to Russian officials or funding in the Brexit campaign.
In 2018, journalist Isabel Oakeshott suggested that the Kremlin may have exploited Banks and fellow Leave.EU campaigner Andy Wigmore. Banks was investigated by the Electoral Commission, which referred the case to the National Crime Agency (NCA). When questioned about the source of an £8 million loan to the Leave.EU campaign, Banks stated, 'There was no Russian money and no interference of any type.' The NCA later found 'no evidence' of criminal offenses. Banks threatened legal action against the Electoral Commission for defamation in 2019, but the matter was settled the following year.
A spokesperson for Downing Street declined to comment on the specifics of the prime minister's briefing but emphasized that national security is a primary responsibility of the government, focusing on protecting citizens and democratic values from foreign threats.