UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Sunday became the first British leader to publicly address concerns regarding Russian interference in the Brexit referendum held in June 2016. Burnham, who assumed office in July, expressed his belief that leaving the European Union had 'more harm than good' and indicated a willingness to explore closer ties with the EU, potentially including rejoining the bloc.
In an interview on The Rest Is Politics podcast, Burnham stated that he inquired about Russian interference upon taking office and received confirmation of a link. However, he did not provide specific evidence of such interference in the Brexit vote, which resulted in a 52% to 48% decision to leave the EU.
Burnham emphasized the need for voters in Europe to be informed about attempts by foreign states, particularly Russia, to disrupt democratic processes. He cited discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who claimed that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has connections to Russian funding. Burnham noted that misinformation from Russia is impacting German politics.
His comments contrast with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's previous stance, which stated there was no evidence of Russian influence in the Brexit vote. The UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee reported in 2020 that the government had not adequately assessed the potential impact of Russian media and online accounts on the referendum.
UK intelligence agencies have indicated that Russia continues to engage in disinformation campaigns to undermine public trust, alongside cyberattacks and espionage, with concerns that the situation is worsening, often aided by artificial intelligence.
Russia has consistently denied allegations of meddling in foreign elections. Following the Brexit vote, it characterized some British politicians as being overly influenced by anti-Russian sentiment.
Polling data from YouGov indicates that since mid-2022, a majority of respondents believe the UK was wrong to leave the EU, with the 'Bregret' sentiment reaching 60% last month, the highest recorded.
Burnham has expressed intentions to seek a political consensus regarding the UK's future relationship with the EU, suggesting he may campaign for rejoining at the next election. EU officials have responded positively to this shift in tone from the UK, with France and Spain also expressing support for closer ties. However, some experts, including Professor Iain Begg from the London School of Economics, caution that rejoining could exacerbate political divisions and would be a complex process for both the EU and the UK.