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Brexit Russian Factor 'Absolute Rubbish' - UK House of Commons Leader

© AFP 2023 / Leon NealLeader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling MP
Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling MP - Sputnik International
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Despite the Russian Government's explicit neutrality regarding UK's EU referendum, the so-called "Russian factor" has been deployed to varying effect by both sides in the UK's referendum campaign.

In March 2016, the UK's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond suggested that the only country wanting Britain to leave the EU was Russia. Conversely, Prime Minister David Cameron has argued that Putin's "aggression" was a reason to remain inside the European Union.

The Russian Embassy in London has once again reiterated its position — that Moscow has been unfairly dragged into a debate on which it holds no opinion. In a statement on behalf of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov said:

"We are used to the Russian factor being one of the regular tools used in the US electoral campaign, but for us it's a new thing that the Russian factor or the President Putin factor is being used in the Brexit debate.

"It is a new phenomenon… and let's not forget that President Putin has spoken more than once about our interest in forging good partner-like and mutually beneficial relations with EU nations."

Asked about his response to the allegations by the Remain campaign that their Leave counterparts are "playing into the hands of President Putin," the leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling MP told Sputnik:

"It's absolute rubbish. In the heat of the campaign people say things. But the arguments about leaving have nothing to do with president Putin. The reason is that in Europe we are well placed to tackle any aggressive or confrontational action of Russia as a member of NATO, and that partnership goes beyond the EU."

US President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in central London with Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (unseen) following a meeting at Downing Street, in London, Britain April, 22, 2016. - Sputnik International
US Fears Losing Europe to Russia If Brexiteers Get Their Way
Thus far, high profile interventions on Britain's referendum have included Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, President Xi Jinping of China, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is relatively unusual amongst world leaders, in that he has not expressed any preference regarding the UK's relationship with the European Union.

UK citizens will vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership.

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