British Prime Minister Bernan confirmed for the first time that Russia had interfered in the Brexit referendum, warning French and German voters to pay attention

British Prime Minister Burnham. (Reuters)

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He also warned French and German voters that forces supported by Moscow are trying to influence the politics of France and Germany.

Reuters reported that Bonham, who took over the British government in July, said last month that Britain could consider returning to the EU in the future. He is the first British prime minister to publicly say there is evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

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"When I took office, I asked whether Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum, and the clear answer I received was yes," Bonnam said in an interview released today on the podcast "The Rest Is Politics."

Bonnen did not specify how Russia interfered in the referendum, nor did he disclose the basis for this claim.

The Russian Embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia has previously denied interfering in the Brexit referendum and accused Britain of being anti-Russian and hysterical.

Bonnam's statement differs from that of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Johnson and Johnson had advocated Brexit. He said in 2020 that there was no evidence that Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum.

The British people voted 52% to 48% to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.

Bonnen said voters in European democracies need to know clearly that there are attempts to disrupt their politics.

"I mean, it's important to document these things clearly now to help German and French voters understand that some of these political maneuvers are being instigated by our enemy, which is Russia."

According to the 2020 report of the British Parliament's "Intelligence and Security Committee", the British government failed to confirm whether Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

The report also found that Russia attempted to influence Scotland's 2014 independence referendum, when voters rejected independence.

Controversy over Britain's relationship with continental Europe is now back on the table after Burnham said last month he might advocate for Britain to return to the European Union at the next election.