Understand
MI5 chief warns against overstating Russian interference in Brexit vote
Overview
MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum has acknowledged that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 Brexit referendum using online trolls and bots, but warned against overstating the impact of these efforts on the final result. His comments follow remarks by Prime Minister Andy Burnham regarding Moscow's interference, which drew criticism from Conservative politicians and figures like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage. Downing Street later clarified that the prime minister does not believe Russian efforts successfully altered the referendum outcome.
Key points
- MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum confirmed that Russian interference via trolls, bots, and state media occurred during the 2016 Brexit referendum.
- Sir Ken warned against overstating the impact, stating there is a significant difference between interference attempted and outcome swayed.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously stated he received clear answers that Russian interference occurred, sparking backlash from Conservative politicians.
- Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart described Sir Ken's remarks as an extraordinary slap down to the prime minister.
- Downing Street clarified that the prime minister believes Russia tried to influence the vote, but does not believe those efforts were successful.
- Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed security services told him in 2016 there was no evidence of successful interference by any power.