PM's Belief in Brexit Legitimacy Despite Russia Claims
BBC News reports that the Prime Minister believes the 2016 Brexit vote was legitimate, contrary to Russia's claims of interference. This statement was made by Political Reporter, Kate Whannel.
No 10's Response
A No 10 spokesman clarified that while it is "inconceivable" that Russia did not attempt to manipulate the Brexit vote, the PM is of the opinion that their efforts were unsuccessful in altering the outcome.
Andy Burnham's Interview
In an interview with The Rest is Politics podcast, Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Manchester, expressed his belief in Russian interference in the Brexit referendum, stating that he had received confirmation of this from Downing Street.
Key Points from Burnham's Interview:
- Russian interference in German politics through misinformation and disinformation was acknowledged.
- He criticized the UK's response to foreign interference in democratic processes, suggesting that more needed to be done to inform the public.
Political Reactions
- Nigel Farage (Reform UK) labeled the Prime Minister a "liar" over the Brexit vote legitimacy claims.
- Sir Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats) supported Burnham, praising his courage in speaking out against suppressed truths.
- Stephen Doughty (Foreign Minister) confirmed Russia's attempts at interfering in various democratic events without providing specific details regarding the Brexit vote.
- Katie Lam (Conservative shadow minister) criticized the Prime Minister for potentially sowing doubt about the Brexit result.
Historical Context
A 2020 parliamentary report raised concerns about Russia's influence through social media 'troll' accounts but did not reach a definitive conclusion on election and referendum interference. In 2017, then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson denied seeing evidence of successful Russian meddling in UK elections.