Reposted by Kate Innes
"Voters had not been informed sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas.
Evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 general election.
We also know that they have tried to stoke tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events"
![[screenshot from archived version of Observer piece From Russia with interference: Burnham first PM to confirm Kremlin role in Brexit vote
Burnham, who last week met the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, in Berlin, said the pair discussed the growing risks posed by hostile states, and that his counterpart "was saying to me that the AfD [Alternative für Deutschland] are clearly linked to Russia - funded, I believe".
Speaking on the podcast, he added: "There is certainly misinformation, disinformation that is emanating from Russia into German politics... But 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 mean, 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."
Burnham said the country had been "too much on the back foot", which meant voters had not been "informed... sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas".
Speaking at the UN a fortnight ago, Burnham touched on Russian interference in UK democracy without discussing the Brexit vote. He said: "We have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 general election. We also know that they have tried to stoke tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events."
https://archive.ph/zyNbm
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/from-russia-with-interference-burnham-first-pm-to-confirm-kremlin-role-in-brexit-vote](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreib7ckji435k5fdgkfjwqzmhbtbatdmri4xu5mx2j6bqjgfn3sm6pe)
