British Prime Minister Andy Burnham revealed that Russia “clearly” interfered in the 2016 Brexit referendum, while leaving open the possibility of the United Kingdom rejoining the EU.
According to The Independent, the British prime minister revealed that upon his arrival at No. 10 this summer, he had asked whether Moscow had interfered in the vote—and received “the clear answer that yes, there had been.”
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Bernam’s remarks on the “Rest is Politics” podcast mark the first time a British prime minister has confirmed the Kremlin’s interference in Brexit.
Last month, the prime minister announced at the Labor Party’s annual conference that he would consider options to bring Britain closer to the EU and hinted that re-entryinto the EU could be included in the Labour Party’s next election manifesto.
“Russian Disinformation Influences German Politics”
In addition, Bernam stated that he had discussed Russia’s influence with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his recent visit to Berlin.
“There is certainly disinformation, and disinformation originating from Russia that influences German politics,” he emphasized. “However, when I came to Downing Street, I asked the question: Was there interference by Russia in the 2016 referendum? And I received the clear answer that yes, there was. I mean, it’s important now to clearly document these facts and help voters in Germany and France understand that part of this policy is instigated by our enemies, specifically Russia.”
Bernam noted that the United Kingdom had adopted an “excessively defensive stance” and, as a result, voters had not been “adequately informed about the extent to which some seek to disrupt the political process from abroad.”
The Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee found in 2020 that the government had not fully assessed the impact that Russian state media and “troll” accounts might have on the EU referendum
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York last month, the British prime minister criticized Russian interference. “We have evidence that they tried to interfere in the 2019 general election. We know they tried to stir up tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events,” he noted.
A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment on the nature of the briefing given to the prime minister but stated: “National security is every government’s top priority. We are focused on ensuring that our citizens and institutions are protected from foreign powers and their agents who seek to threaten lives and undermine our democratic values.”.
Source: Protothema.gr
