Stephen Doughty has called for stronger defences against Russian information warfare, saying on Monday that attempts to interfere in the Brexit referendum had not succeeded.
The Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth said the government needed to be clear about efforts by hostile states to disrupt democratic politics. He pointed to previous statements by security minister Dan Jarvis on attempted interference.
Asked whether the referendum result was unsafe, Doughty maintained that the result stood. His comments followed Andy Burnham's account of being briefed about Russian interference.
Doughty said Russia was spending £1.5 billion a year on disinformation. He argued that the threat extended beyond elections to attempts to destabilise societies and economies.
Doughty's intervention emphasises stronger defences against hostile influence. He distinguished attempted interference from evidence that it changed the referendum outcome.
