UK PM Accuses Russia of Interfering in 2016 Brexit Vote

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham claims Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, urging transparency on global election threats.

Editorial Desk

October 12, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has publicly stated that it is clear Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, emphasizing the importance of documenting such actions as European nations face similar threats.

In a podcast excerpt released Sunday, Burnham confirmed that his advisors had provided a definitive answer: Russia did interfere. He also mentioned discussing potential links between Russian influence and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during their recent meeting in Berlin.

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Burnham’s remarks mark the first time a British prime minister has openly acknowledged Russian meddling in the EU referendum. The Intelligence and Security Committee previously found that the government failed to fully assess the impact of Russian state media and online disinformation campaigns on the vote.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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