Andy Burnham's foreign minister contradicts Prime Minister on Brexit and admits Russia was 'unsuccessful' in influencing Leave vote

Andy Burnham's foreign minister contradicts Prime Minister on Brexit and admits Russia was 'unsuccessful' in influencing Leave vote Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty rejected the Prime Minister's claim of 'clear' meddling by Moscow Sign up to the Politics Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Andy Burnham has been contradicted by his own foreign minister after the Prime Minister claimed Russia had influenced the Brexit referendum. The Labour leader told the Rest Is Politics podcast Russia "clearly" meddled in the 2016 vote, as he indicated an interest in pushing to rejoin the European Union, or at least build closer ties. He said as he entered No10 in the summer, he asked if Moscow had interfered in the 2016 vote on whether to leave the EU and was given "the clear answer that yes there was". However, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty this morning told LBC: “We know what the result was. I don’t think they’ve succeeded in their efforts. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “I don’t think they’ve succeeded in their efforts to undermine our elections.” 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.” Andy Burnham's original comments come amid a push by his administration towards forming closer ties with the EU, undermining the result of the 2016 vote. The Prime Minister earlier claimed Russia 'clearly' meddled in the Brexit referendum | PA In a Commons address later today, the Prime Minister is expected to reiterate his argument from the Labour Party conference Brexit has done “more harm than good”. He will call on all parties to support the Government’s approach in seeking a closer relationship with the EU, arguing such a move could help control immigration and boost growth. 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.” LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Andy Burnham claims Russia 'clearly' meddled in 2016 Brexit referendum as PM justfies plot to rejoin Andy Burnham offers 'complete solidarity' with Ukraine as he backs Donald Trump's energy ceasefire Andy Burnham to publish all dealings with Man City during his time as Manchester mayor At the Labour conference in Liverpool last month, Mr Burnham said he would set out the “options” for Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe around the time of a UK-EU summit planned for the end of the year. He has suggested those options could include rejoining the bloc. Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf described Andy Burnham's expressed interest in closer ties with the EU as "awful", having "U-turned on a key election pledge to not re-run Brexit". Mr Yusuf told GB News: "More people voted for Brexit in this country than have voted for anything for the history of this country in a single election. For him to be doing this now I think is really awful, but it's why people have such a dim view of career politicians. "They will say anything they can to get elected." Meanwhile, Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie urged Andy Burnham to "move on" from the Brexit debate altogether, and take advantage of being outside the EU rather than pivot back toward it. He told the People's Channel: "I think it's very dangerous of the Prime Minister to seek to reopen the Brexit division that this country has moved on from. Frankly, what we need to do now is face the future and make the best of what we have right now. "The huge opportunities afforded to us by being outside the European Union that people voted for in a legitimate vote in record numbers. We need to respect that vote. "It was taken over a decade ago now. Come on, Andy, move on. It's not 2016. It's 2026. Let's deal with the issues we're facing today." Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty contradicted the Prime Minister's claims | PARLIAMENT TV Downing Street has conceded no Russian interference successfully affected the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum, in spite of the Prime Minister's earlier claims. A No10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister accepts the result. We do believe the result to be legitimate”. When probed on Mr Burnham's use of "loose" language in his comments, they added that he "has been very clear”, and that "Russia has indeed attempted to interfere in a series of democratic events in UK and across Europe - they haven’t succeeded”. They continued: "The prime Minister has been clear about the threat Russia poses in the information sphere. It is inconceivable they didn’t try to use the referendum to their advantage. "The Prime Minister is clear the Brexit deal we have inherited leaves Britain worse off and we can do much better. This is not about leaping to a referendum." 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