Andy Burnham Says Russia Interfered in 2016 Brexit Referendum

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated it is clear Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, a claim he made after asking about Kremlin involvement upon entering Downing Street.

Burnham said he received a clear answer that yes, there was interference. He made these remarks on The Rest is Politics podcast, with the episode set to be released on October 12, 2026. Burnham believes it is important to state this clearly to help voters in Germany and France understand that some politics is instigated by Russia.

Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee reported in 2020 that the government had failed to fully assess the impact of Russian state-run media and social media accounts on the referendum. Burnham also discussed the threat of Russian influence with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a visit to Berlin this week, noting misinformation emanating from Russia into German politics.

He previously addressed Russian information warfare at the UN General Assembly last month, stating there was evidence Moscow tried to interfere with the 2019 general election. Burnham's comments mark a departure from previous Conservative government positions that there was no evidence of successful Russian interference. The London Chamber of Commerce also urged Burnham to abolish Sunday trading laws in England as part of his first budget on October 28, citing the laws as a relic of a different era of retail. The chamber stated that Sunday is a commercially valuable day and London needs to compete with international capitals.