Andy Burnham claims Russia ‘clearly’ meddled in 2016 Brexit referendum as PM justfies plot to rejoin EU

He added that it was important to put the information on the record so that voters in Germany and France “understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies”.

Mr Burnham visited German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin last week and pledged to “bring the UK closer to Europe”.

And after his Labour conference speech, he told GB News he could not “leave Britain out” of discussions around the UK’s future relationship with the bloc and insisted on the need to consider all options.

Now, speaking to Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell on the Rest is Politics podcast, he said: “I asked the question coming to Downing Street, well was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.

“These things are important now to put clearly on the record and I believe help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia.

“I think we’ve been too much on the back-foot on that actually and we haven’t informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas.”

Mr Burnham has not ruled out a future manifesto pledge to rejoin the bloc, and has refused to say if another referendum would be needed.

He also claimed there was “certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics” after his conversation with Mr Merz.

Shadow Foreign Minister Wendy Morton said: “The threats from hostile nations come in different shapes and sizes, and attempts to interfere in our elections are particularly concerning.

“However, the result of the Brexit referendum is legitimate and its authenticity should not be questioned.

“The public made their decision and Andy Burnham’s attempts to turn back the clock to 2016 run against the best interests of our country.

“Measures to protect our democracy are welcome but they must not favour one side or the other.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that while he was not going to agree with Mr Burnham on everything, his statement “needed to be said by a Prime Minister”

He said: “After the Conservatives suppressed the truth for years, this took courage.

“We must do far more to protect our democracy from attack by the Kremlin and other hostile states, before it is too late.”

This is the first time the Prime Minister has directly claimed Russian interference since he took to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) lectern and announced the “National Centre for Information Defence” to improve Britain’s “community cohesion”.

Addressing the multinational assembly, he claimed Russia had launched an “industrial-scale assault by hostile actors on the information environment”.

Critics of the plan, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, accused Mr Burnham of launching a “Labour Ministry of Truth” with an “Orwellian-style message” as they drew comparisons to dystopian novel 1984.