UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has accused Russia of interfering in Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union, warning that countries across Europe face the same threat.In excerpts from an episode of “The Rest Is Politics” podcast released on Sunday, Burnham said he asked his advisers after becoming prime minister in July whether Russia had interfered in the Brexit referendum.“I've had the clear answer that yes, there was,” Burnham 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,” he added.Burnham's remarks come amid warnings from UK intelligence agencies about the growing threat of Russian interference in Britain's democratic institutions.
His comments are believed to mark the first time a British prime minister has publicly acknowledged Russian interference in the Brexit vote.Burnham also said he discussed possible links between Russia and Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz when the two leaders met 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,” he added.In 2020, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee found that the British government had failed to fully assess the potential impact of Russian state-run media and “troll” accounts on the EU referendum.