NEWS · 12 October 2026
Russia DID interfere in the EU referendum, prime minister Andy Burnham has confirmed.
Yes, we knew. You knew. The dogs in the street knew. But it's still a big deal to finally have it confirmed – every previous PM has refused.
Burnham said: "I asked the question coming to Downing Street: was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? And I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.
"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."
One prime minister after another refused to say this until now because they knew it would delegitimise Brexit even further.
We must take this official confirmation as new fuel for our Rejoin campaigning.
Brexit was an attack on the UK by a hostile actor – aided by politicians who continue to defend Russian interests today. It was not democracy – it was the subversion of democracy.
After years of being painted as borderline conspiracy-theorists over the Brexit-Russia connection, it is important to know that all of us were right.
But at the same time, we can't just look backwards. The damage from Brexit is now self-evident, and the benefits of rejoining are clear.
Today, there will be a parliamentary debate on rejoining, following the Rejoin petition getting 111,000 signatures. Then, later, a Commons statement from the government will "urge MPs to face up to the damage caused by Brexit, and embrace closer ties with the EU".
As we have said, they are opening the door. We will continue to push.
Divisive?
The Conservatives this morning said it is "dangerous and divisive of the prime minister to reopen this debate in such an explosive fashion".
They still think we should all have been left in the dark in order to avoid questioning the legitimacy of an illegitimate referendum.
Every time the issue of Brexit is raised, people – even some well-meaning people – say they don't want to re-run a 'divisive' debate.
But it's Brexit itself that was divisive.
Brexit was about nothing but division. It tore us apart from our European neighbours. It won by spreading hate and xenophobia.
Rejoining is about reunion and homecoming. It is about healing and joy. It is the antidote to division.
Over these coming weeks and months, let's remember that Brexit was about division, but Rejoin is about unity.
