Burnham says Russia interfered in 2016 Brexit vote

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on The Rest Is Politics podcast, released Sunday, that he asked on coming to Downing Street whether Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum and "had the clear answer that yes, there was." Britons voted 52:48 per cent to leave the EU. Burnham, who became prime minister in July, did not detail the form of interference or the evidence. A 2020 Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee report found the government failed to fully assess Russian state media and troll account impact on the referendum; it also found Russia sought to influence Scotland's 2014 independence referendum. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in 2020 there was no evidence of Russian interference. Russia has previously denied meddling. The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Burnham said voters in Germany and France should understand that some politics is "instigated via our enemies, namely Russia." He said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told him AfD is "clearly related to Russia, with funding," and that "there is disinformation emanating from Russia in German politics." Last month Burnham said Britain could consider rejoining the EU.