The Kremlin has criticised Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s UN speech accusing Russia of spreading disinformation and interfering in British politics. Moscow said Britain and other European countries were fuelling anti-Russian sentiment, arguing that the approach would worsen tensions rather than support de-escalation.

Burnham announced a National Centre for Information Defence to counter hostile-state information warfare, working with intelligence agencies, government departments, police and social media companies. He described the threat as an “industrial-scale assault” involving fear, falsehoods and alleged interference in the 2019 general election, citing Britain’s experience since Brexit as a warning to other countries.