Downing Street trying to play down Andy Burnham comments on Russia’s role in Brexit

If Brexit dominated the past decade for Britain, many in the halls of power in Westminster believe asymmetric conflict with Russia may dominate the next one.

UK prime minister Andy Burnham managed to combine both issues at the weekend by appearing to suggest that Russia had influenced the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Downing Street spent much of Monday trying to walk his comments back.

Burnham gave a Monday afternoon statement on global affairs to the House of Commons, in which he welcomed efforts to secure a so-called “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine preventing them from attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.

Donald Trump had – seemingly prematurely – announced such a ceasefire at the weekend, although Ukraine accused Russia of continuing to hit energy targets. Burnham, meanwhile, suggested he gave the US president the idea for the ceasefire when they met last month in New York.