British Prime Minister Says Russia Meddled In 2016 Referendum On Leaving EU

What happened: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the UK's 2016 EU referendum, and warned voters in France and Germany about Kremlin efforts to influence their politics. He gave no evidence. Key numbers: Britons voted 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in June 2016. The UK left on Jan. 31, 2020. Comments aired Oct. 11. Why it matters: Burnham is the first British prime minister to publicly claim evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit vote. A campaign group called the comments an attempt to undermine the result's legitimacy.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Russia interfered in the UK's 2016 EU referendum, and warned voters in France and Germany about Kremlin efforts to influence their politics. He gave no evidence.

Burnham is the first British prime minister to publicly claim evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit vote. A campaign group called the comments an attempt to undermine the result's legitimacy.