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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Russia interfered in Britain’s 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union, in what is believed to be the first time a British leader has publicly acknowledged such meddling.
Burnham told The Rest is Politics podcast that on taking office in July he asked advisers whether Russia had interfered in the Brexit vote.
"I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was," he said. "These things are important now to put clearly on the record and I believe help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia."
Moscow has long denied meddling in other countries’ elections or referendums.
Burnham’s remarks come as UK intelligence agencies warn of a growing threat of Russian interference in Britain’s democratic institutions. In 2020, a parliamentary committee found the government had failed to fully assess the possible impact of Russian state media and "troll" accounts on the referendum.
Burnham also said he had discussed possible links between Russia and Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin last week.
"You know he was saying to me that the AfD are clearly linked to Russia, funded I believe," Burnham said. "There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics."
Labour’s links to the UAE
At home, Burnham is under pressure over his ties to Manchester City, the Gulf state-backed Premier League club that was found guilty last month of widespread breaches of financial rules.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester was criticised for saying he would be "really concerned" to lose the club’s wealthy arab owners. Labour MPs have accepted around €325,500 in hospitality and foreign trips from the United Arab Emirates, far more than any other party, according to official records analysed by the British newspaper The Sun.
On the podcast, Burnham agreed to an opposition request to publish details of his meetings with the club’s owners, saying he had held only one significant meeting, in 2021.
This will not include information of Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak's private meeting with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Downing Street on 14 September, 11 days before the club was found guilty.
The timing of the talks is suspicious although reports claim talks were held in his separate role as chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala and focused on defence, security intelligence and trade.
Burnham has said the football issues were serious and subject to an independent process, but should be kept separate from questions of investment.