A top Foreign Office minister has said Russia is failing in its attempts to undermine British elections, after Prime Minister Andy Burnham accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Minister Stephen Doughty suggested Russia was not successful in its attempt, telling LBC: “We know what the result was. I don’t think they’ve succeeded in their efforts. I don’t think they’ve succeeded in their efforts to undermine our elections.”
Minister cites security evidence
He added: “The security minister’s been very clear that they’ve attempted but not succeeded, in his evidence that he gave previously on this. But the fact is that they are attempting to interfere, and we all need to be alert to that and respond accordingly.”
He continued: "Russia has attempted to interfere in a number of our democratic processes over a sustained period, and we know that they're spending 1.5 billion this year alone on disinformation and propaganda."
"Of course, it's not just Russia doing this, and it's important that we have the right steps in place to keep our country's democratic processes and indeed our wider society safe from these threats."
Burnham to address MPs
Mr Burnham will on Monday deliver a Commons statement to MPs setting out his plans to reset his relationship with the EU. He will say it would be a dereliction of duty to turn our back on the possibility of a new deal with the bloc and call for a calm, clear-eyed approach to dealing with Europe.
It comes after the PM accused Russia of interfering in the Brexit referendum, telling the Rest is Politics podcast: "I asked the question coming to Downing Street, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia?"
"And I've had the clear answer that yes, there was. I mean, these things are important now to put clearly on the record, and I believe, help voters in Germany and France understand that some of this politics is instigated via our enemies, namely Russia."
"And, I think we've been too much on the back foot on that, actually. And we haven't informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas."
Farage blamed for decade of drift
He also told the podcast he holds Nigel Farage "very significantly responsible" for Britain's failure to move forward in the last decade. He said: "He's (Nigel Farage) given Britain a decade of division and drift. I would hold him very significantly responsible for our failure to move forward in the last decade."
A No10 source said: “Andy understands why some politicians don’t want to face up to the reality that Brexit has not delivered what they once promised. But it is time for a different conversation about what our long-term relationship should be.
“Sticking with the status quo and not working relentlessly to secure a good deal that boosts growth would be a major dereliction of duty.”
