'Yes, there was one': Andy Burnham accuses Russia of meddling in 2016 Brexit referendum

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday it was "clear" that Russia interfered in Britain's 2016 Brexit referendum, reigniting accusations of Moscow's meddling.

“On arriving at Downing Street, I asked the question: was there Russian interference in the 2016 referendum? And I received a clear answer: yes, there was one,” said Andy Burnham, in the podcast “The Rest Is Politics” broadcast Monday.

“It is important to clearly establish these facts (...) and to help voters in Germany and France understand that part of this political dynamic is fueled by our enemies, namely Russia,” continued the Labor leader, who came to power in July. Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty, however, said Moscow's attempts to interfere in the referendum in 2016 had "not succeeded".

Andy Burnham, who announced in September that the United Kingdom would set up an organization responsible for combating disinformation emanating from “hostile actors” like Russia, also claimed in the podcast that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had told him that the AfD, an anti-migrant and pro-Russian party, was “clearly linked to Russia, financed” by Moscow. The Prime Minister must speak again about Brexit and relations between London and the 27 on Monday afternoon in front of MPs, and urge them to show “pragmatism” by working towards rapprochement with the European Union.

“Adopting a pragmatic approach to the relationship with the EU”

He will declare that it would be “a dereliction of (his) duty to turn his back on the possibility of concluding a new agreement with the European Union, likely to stimulate economic growth and combat illegal immigration”, according to a press release from Downing Street. “We must adopt a pragmatic approach to the relationship with the EU and not turn away from the opportunities it can offer,” he must tell MEPs.

Andy Burnham relaunched at the end of September the idea of ​​a possible return of the United Kingdom to the European Union, a first for a head of the British government since Brexit. He had mentioned four options: the status quo, a return to the customs union, to the single market, “or to go all the way”, that is to say rejoin the EU.