It is inconceivable to think Russia did not try to interfere in Brexit vote, says PM
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It is inconceivable to think that Russia did not try to interfere in the 2016 EU referendum, says PM
Image source:
Reuters
By
Kate Whannel
Political reporter
Published
12 October 2026, 13:53 BST
Updated 22 minutes ago
Andy Burnham has said it is "inconceivable" to think that Russia did not try to interfere in the 2016 EU referendum.
The prime minister told MPs he had not been questioning the legitimacy of the Brexit vote, when he told the Rest is Politics podcast that it was "clear" there had been interference by Moscow.
His comments to the podcast provoked angry responses from some Brexit campaigners, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, calling the prime minister "a liar".
A No 10 spokesperson said that while the prime minister believed it was highly likely Russia tried to influence the referendum result, he did not believe those efforts were successful.
In an interview, released on Monday, Burnham told The Rest is Politics podcast (external link) that upon arriving in Downing Street, he had asked if there had been Russian interference in the vote, adding: "I've had the clear answer that, yes, there was."
He added:
"I think we've been too much on the back foot on that actually and we haven't informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas."
Burnham did not provide details about the extent or nature of Russian activities in the referendum during the interview and when pressed on the subject in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon appeared to be less definitive.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister had "implied that the referendum result was illegitimate because of Russian interference".
She asked the prime minister to confirm that he believed the referendum was legitimate adding: "If not, will he publish the evidence that Russia swung the result of the 2016 referendum."
Burnham said he had "implied no such thing" but added that it was a "matter of record" that Russia sought to interfere in the 2019 general election.
"We think it is inconceivable that this was the first time," he said.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed Burnham's comments, saying it "took courage" after the Conservatives took so long suppressing the evidence.
He also urged the prime minister to publish evidence of interference in the Brexit referendum as well as other UK votes.
Burnham did not commit to making public any evidence but said he wanted to ensure that the British democratic system was protected in the future.
Burnham says it is 'clear' Russia interfered with Brexit vote
Published 9 hours ago
Is Burnham right to blame Russia for spreading online disinformation?
Published 23 September
Responding to Burnham's initial comments earlier in the day, Farage said: "The prime minister is a liar, yes, a liar."
"There was no Russian interference - the Russian hoax has run all the way through this," he added.
"This is out-of-touch, out-of-date Andy Burnham with all sorts of bizarre ideas."
Former prime minister Boris Johnson wrote on X that in 2016, when he became foreign secretary the security services had told him "there was no evidence of any successful interference in the 2016 referendum, by Russia or any other power."
He added:
"Either the security services have changed their view - which would be very odd - or Burnham is lying about what he has been told."
In 2020, a parliamentary report
did not reach a firm conclusion on whether Russia had tried to intervene in U.K. politics.