Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, stated that Brexit has been exploited by Vladimir Putin to sow division in Britain during a speech at the United Nations in New York. He claimed that the UK has faced an 'industrial scale assault by hostile actors' aimed at undermining the country since leaving the EU. Burnham suggested that unnamed 'outside actors' manipulated public opinion during the 2016 referendum. In his speech on Tuesday night, he indicated that the situation has worsened since Brexit, identifying Russia as the main culprit.
Downing Street announced the establishment of a new National Centre for Information Defence, referred to as the 'Ministry of Truth', which aims to detect and disrupt 'hostile state information attacks'. Burnham has hinted at the possibility of Labour committing to rejoining the EU in the party's next manifesto. He emphasized the need to draw a line under a 'corrosive' decade, stating, 'It is now ten years since Brexit, my country has lived through the destruction, and it has given us a unique perspective that I want to share with you today.'
During his address, Burnham claimed that Russian agencies have engaged in an 'industrial-scale assault' on the information environment in the UK and its allies, spreading lies and disinformation. He noted that the Kremlin spends £1.3 billion a year on manipulating information.
The new disinformation unit will collaborate with intelligence agencies, the police, and social media companies to improve local community cohesion and counter distorted narratives about Britain. Burnham stated that the UK 'will not play Russia's game of trading escalatory rhetoric', asserting a calm and prepared stance in defending the nation and its allies.
While hardline Remain campaigners have long alleged Russian influence in the Brexit referendum, they have not provided conclusive evidence. Burnham's revival of this claim may indicate a potential shift towards reversing Brexit. However, he reiterated that Labour's manifesto will maintain current Brexit red lines, including no return to the single market or free movement, while expressing hope that Britain will rejoin the EU in his lifetime. When asked about committing to rejoining in Labour's next manifesto, he stated that it was a question for 'another day'.