Burnham stirs Brexit row with Russian interference claims

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 07:15 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Rest is Politics podcast that Russia had interfered with the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Rest is Politics podcast this week that Russia had interfered with the 2016 Brexit referendum. 'I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? And I've had the clear answer that yes, there was,' Burnham said. He also claimed the UK had been 'too much on the back foot' and 'we haven't informed people sufficiently' about the reality of foreign interference in British democracy.

His comments reopened debate about whether Russian interference had affected the referendum outcome. On Monday, Burnham told MPs that 'Russian actors sought to interfere in the 2019 general election, and we think it is inconceivable that this was the first time'.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum subsequently told politicians not to overstate how successful Russian interference had been. Downing Street confirmed that they believed the referendum outcome was valid, raising questions about why the Prime Minister felt the need to resurrect the issue.

Burnham pledged during his campaign not to 're-run' Brexit arguments and has insisted that he respects the referendum result. He said he would abide by Labour's manifesto red lines on the EU single market, customs union and freedom of movement. The incident came as the government sought to persuade voters that the UK needed closer ties with the EU, and Burnham's mixed messaging on Brexit proved an unwelcome distraction from that effort.

How it is being reported

• Andy Burnham is dragging UK to hell in a handcart – truth is dawning on LabourOPINION - CAROLE MALONE: So much for the promise of a bright new future.Daily Express · 17 Oct, 07:00
• Inside the ‘intense’ Brexit dealing as EU and UK close in on under-30s dealAndy Burnham has blown the Brexit debate wide open againThe i Paper · 17 Oct, 06:00
• Andy Burnham Is Meant To Be Labour’s Great Communicator, But Brexit Has Him FlummoxedAndy Burnham stands near the Reichstag following his recent meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Andy Burnham really could not get his story straight on Brexit this week. The prime minister caused significant confusion after he told the Rest is Politics podcast that Russia had interfered with the 2016 Brexit vote. “I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia ?” Burnham said. “And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.” He also claimed the UK has been “too much on the back foot” and “we haven’t informed…HuffPost UK · 16 Oct, 06:32

In this story: Andy Burnham · Russia · Ken McCallum · MI5 · Labour · Downing Street

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