- Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was "clear" there had been Russian interference in the 2016 vote, provoking a backlash from some Brexit campaigners.
- MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum said there was Russian interference in the Brexit referendum but warned against overstating its impact on the result.
- Sir Ken emphasized the difference between interference attempted and outcome swayed, and warned against making Russian trolls look 10ft tall.
- A No 10 spokesperson clarified that the prime minister believed it was highly likely Russia tried to influence the referendum result, but did not believe those efforts were successful.
- Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart called Sir Ken's comments "an extraordinary slap down to the prime minister".
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lying, saying there was "no Russian interference" in the referendum.
- Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said security services told him there was "no evidence of any successful interference in the 2016 referendum, by Russia or any other power".
- Sir Ken said it was openly on the record that Russia Today and Sputnik and other Russian media organisations came in pretty strongly around the referendum, and that there was a certain amount of interference attempted through trolls and bots.
Andy Burnham has asserted that there was Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum, stating he received confirmation upon entering Downing Street. However, MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum warned against overstating the impact of such interference, emphasizing, "there is a really important difference between interference attempted and outcome swayed."123456
McCallum noted that it is "a matter of public record" that online trolls and bots were involved, but he expressed concern that exaggerating their influence could empower adversaries. He stated, "I am a little bit anxious that we don't play into our adversaries' hands by making these trolls look 10ft tall."1213
Burnham's comments have ignited controversy, with Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart labeling McCallum's remarks as "an extraordinary slap down to the prime minister." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lying, asserting there was "no Russian interference" in the referendum. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also weighed in, recalling that security services had previously indicated "there was no evidence of any successful interference in the 2016 referendum, by Russia or any other power."891011
As the debate continues, the implications of these statements on public perception and political discourse remain significant.
“Sir Ken McCallum said it was "openly on the record" that Russia Today, Sputnik and other Russian media came in "pretty strongly" around the referendum, with interference attempted through trolls and bots. A No 10 spokesperson clarified Burnham believed it was highly likely Russia tried to influence the result but did not believe those efforts were successful, while Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lying.”
BBC
