What happened
The UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, believes the 2016 Brexit referendum result was legitimate despite claims of Russian interference. According to a No 10 spokesman, it is inconceivable that Russia did not try to use the referendum to its advantage, but the PM believes it did not succeed in influencing the result.
Burnham had asked about Russian interference in the vote upon arriving in Downing Street and was told that yes, there was interference. The prime minister's comments prompted an angry reaction from some Brexit supporters, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who called Burnham a liar.
Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty said Russia had been attempting to interfere in a series of democratic events, but did not provide specific details about interference in the vote. A No 10 spokesman later confirmed that the PM believes the referendum result was legitimate and accepts the result.
The issue of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum has been debated for years, with a 2020 parliamentary report criticizing the government for failing to fully assess and counter the threat from Russian social media accounts. An independent review published earlier this year found attempts to sow distrust and exacerbate divisions in UK society, but said it was difficult to establish the impact of these efforts.
