Prime Minister Andy Burnham has alleged that Vladimir Putin took advantage of Brexit to deepen divisions within the United Kingdom. Addressing the United Nations in New York, Burnham outlined what he described as a coordinated effort by foreign adversaries to undermine national stability in the period following the country's exit from the EU.

Burnham claimed that unidentified foreign parties had interfered with public opinion during the 2016 referendum. Addressing the UN on Tuesday evening, he stated that conditions had deteriorated following Brexit and attributed primary responsibility to Russia.

The Prime Minister's office announced a proposal to establish a National Centre for Information Defence, a body that would work to detect and respond to influence operations linked to foreign state actors. The plan has drawn comparisons to the concept of a state-controlled truth arbiter.

Speaking before the United Nations, Burnham committed to moving past what he characterised as a harmful decade, telling delegates that his country had borne the effects of Brexit and that this experience offered a particular perspective he wanted to share. He also noted that foreign actors had conducted a widespread operation targeting the information environment in the UK and among allied nations.

Russian state-affiliated organisations have reportedly employed a range of tactics to circulate false narratives and exploit public anxieties. Burnham added that foreign agencies had promoted right-wing extremist narratives online and attempted to interfere with the 2019 General Election, and stated that the challenge was one faced collectively by many parties.

"We will draw on our experience in the UK — having already navigated this disruption — to support other nations," he said.

The Prime Minister stated that Russia allocates approximately £1.3 billion annually towards what it describes as information influence operations. Downing Street announced that the new counter-disinformation unit would work in conjunction with intelligence services, law enforcement, and social media platforms, with a stated aim of strengthening local community cohesion and countering narratives deemed inaccurate or misleading about the country.

Burnham stated that the UK had no intention of engaging in escalatory exchanges with Russia, and that the approach would be one of readiness rather than alarm.

Those who strongly backed Remain have long asserted that Russia sought to interfere with the Brexit referendum result, though no supporting evidence has been put forward to substantiate the claim. Burnham has indicated he intends to maintain Labour's Brexit commitments for the time being, including positions against rejoining the single market or restoring freedom of movement.

He has expressed a personal desire to see Britain return to the EU within his lifetime. Burnham has also indicated he may put EU re-entry into Labour's next election manifesto, though when questioned during the week about whether he would commit to rejoining in Labour's forthcoming manifesto, he replied that it was a matter for a later date.