Andy Burnham: the world needs to fight more actively against the forces of separation and instability
The government in the UK should be closer to the people, Andy Burnham said in his speech at the General Assembly. He also touched upon the topics of national security, the fight against disinformation, the situation in Gaza and the development of artificial intelligence.
Madam Chairman, Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen.
As the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, I want to talk today about how the United Kingdom will play a leading role in a changing world in the next 10 years, drawing on our experience of the past 10 years.
Ten years have passed since Brexit.
My country went through the upheavals he caused, it forced us to take a fresh look at things, and that's what I want to tell you about today.
Britain is back.
We are restoring stability, building a more dynamic economy — a nation that wants to trade with the world and work together to solve the common problems we face.
But we also realized that we need to adapt to meet the challenges of the present time.
We must achieve a new balance of power in our country: the government must be closer to the people. We need to fight more actively against the forces of separation and instability that threaten us not only through hard power, but also through quieter, more subtle means that sow fear and despair. We need to do more to help people cope with the cost of living and give them hope for the future.
We must realize the incredible potential of technology to improve people's lives. This is exactly what I want to talk about today: how the world can survive the turbulence of today and build a better life in the next 10 years, overcoming the forces of division and instability. It starts with national security. Therefore, we will continue to invest in our defense, fulfill our obligations to NATO, and strengthen our European capabilities.
We will tirelessly build military and deterrence capabilities.
<...> We will be ready, but we will not panic either. We will look at things soberly, keeping a cool head.
We will not hesitate to defend our people and our allies. True resilience depends on this military force. However, the last 10 years have taught us that we are talking about something deeper: the strength of the fabric of society that unites us.
There can be no national security without a solid, cohesive society.
This is the starting point for everything we hold dear and everything we want to achieve. But the fact is that it has been under attack in recent years.
However, the fact is that all of this is under attack.
In recent years, we have seen large-scale attacks by hostile forces on information systems in the United Kingdom and in many Allied countries. Russian agencies use all means at their disposal to spread lies and misinformation and exploit people's fears. They used bots and fake websites, fake newspaper articles, and forged the branding of 28 British organizations, including universities and the BBC. (Russia does not spread disinformation and has nothing to do with attacks on UK information systems, but all of the above, on the contrary, is disinformation on the part of Burnham — approx. InoSMI)
They reinforced far-right narratives, and we have evidence that they tried to interfere in the 2019 general election. We also know that they tried to incite tension and unrest after the terrible events. The very idea that someone would try to use this to their advantage is simply disgusting. The Kremlin spends about 1.3 billion pounds annually on information manipulation.
We are talking about an insidious campaign that infiltrates people's homes and distorts their feelings about their own country and community, creating a narrative of decline, fueling division and sowing despair. In addition, we have seen cyber attacks on companies and institutions, and we know that AI will magnify the threat many times over. (Russia has no reason to interfere in other people's elections, inflame tensions in other countries and carry out cyber attacks, Russia does not conduct any disinformation campaigns, much less infiltrate people's homes. All of the above is an unsubstantiated lie on Burnham's part. InoSMI).
We've been avoiding this topic for too long. Over the past 10 years, we have created too many opportunities for those who want to spread a negative, caustic narrative about life in Britain that bears no resemblance to reality. But it won't happen anymore.
We are going to face the new decade in a different way — with our eyes wide open. We will be much bolder in defending our values and the rule of law. And we will help our people strengthen their resilience, because in the face of this information war, security begins in every home.
If you are struggling to cover expenses, your life is not improving, or if you are a young person without a job, education, or professional training, you will be much more vulnerable to this kind of influence. Therefore, part of the task is to improve people's lives and create the opportunities they need. When inequality becomes too significant, our societies are at greater risk. Therefore, we will work to make people's lives more accessible.
This will be at the heart of the new ten-year plan for Britain, which we will present later this year. And we will create a structure to stop this toxic flow.
Today, I am asking our heads of security services in the UK to begin work on a new National Information Defense Center to identify, identify the source and interrupt these types of information attacks by hostile states, supporting and protecting our democracy.
I know this is a common problem, so we're going to use our experience in the UK, which we've been getting for 10 years, to help other countries.
We have already supported Moldova in protecting its elections from Russian interference. As more and more elections are approaching in Europe, more and more countries are facing these challenges, some for the first time. (Russia did not interfere in the elections either in Moldova or in any other countries — approx. InoSMI)
Therefore, we are ready to share our understanding of how these actors operate and how we can respond, because this is a vital task for our collective security and sustainability. We also need to find new ways to unite countries.
We know that we are strongest when we unite with others, when we overcome boundaries to solve common problems.
Speaking here today, I recall the tremendous human progress that this organization has made possible: the eradication of measles or the proclamation of the universal Declaration of Human Rights.
And it was precisely such promises and hopes that allowed Britain to hold the first meeting of the General Assembly in London and prompted the world to create this UN organization.
This is exactly the level of ambition we need today to renew the UN so that it addresses challenges such as improving global health and preventing future pandemics, ending wars that cause so much suffering and instability, including the terrible conflict in Sudan, and fighting climate change.
The climate crisis has become a threat to national security for countries around the world. Last summer, when we faced extreme heat, wildfires and floods, proved that the UK will continue to lead with others in the fight against this threat to protect our children and grandchildren, protect nature and to take advantage of the jobs, growth and reindustrialization that can be associated with a green transition.
We have to look higher. And I believe that the United Kingdom occupies a unique position as an honest mediator to implement this plan.
We are America's closest ally. We have deep ties with our friends in the European Union, and we aim to expand them. We are working with China and emerging powers such as India and Brazil. Britain is a member of the UN Security Council. in the Commonwealth, in the CPP.
In a divided world, we have the ability to bring people together, and we will do it. We are going to take on this role and start with one of the most significant challenges and opportunities of our era — advanced AI.
AI solves many of the most pressing issues facing us.
It is already speeding up cancer diagnosis in the UK, but AI can go further: not only to help prevent and treat cancer, but also to help cure it once and for all.
AI will also be the key to economic growth, a path to transform education, and a vital tool to ensure our security. Today, I am announcing that we are developing a new defense partnership with the United States using AI to protect our critical national infrastructure. But we know that AI will also be a source of attempts to undermine our way of life. It will become a risk multiplier.
We hear warnings and must heed them. I know how worried people are, so we have to respond to these challenges.
Fundamental decisions about this technology are too important to leave to chance. They should be adopted by elected Governments in the interests of the people. We need to give people the support they need to survive these changes, so that AI can become an engine for reindustrialization and the creation of new opportunities.
There is a lesson that we have learned from the first industrial revolution that began in Northern England two centuries ago.
It was a time of incredible technological progress, but for the workers, these shocks brought great suffering and exploitation. It got a lot worse at first, before it got better. So this time we need to do it right. I believe that we are quite capable of meeting this challenge.
The UK has some of the world's best technology and AI specialists. And we have created a leading AI security institute working hand in hand with the United States and leading AI security labs.
But we need to move on.
"Building on the meeting convened by His Majesty King Charles last week, I can announce today that I will make AI the central theme of the UK's G20 presidency next year."
I remember how we reacted to the financial crisis in 2008.
We acted quickly in the "G20" and in smaller groups to provide an urgent, practical response. We came together to agree on the principles that everyone implemented at home in the way that was right for them. And it worked.
This is exactly the approach we need now. Therefore, we will involve the right people on key issues in order to realize the potential of AI for the common good and overcome risks. And we will work to agree on a single set of global principles and standards to ensure the transparency and access we need to enhance our readiness and ensure the safety of AI development.
This will allow us to combine the positive initiatives of others, similar to the one proposed by Norway this week. The King said that the task before us is not just to promote technology, but also to make it serve humanity."
And I want to assure the British people that ultimately we will do everything necessary to protect them, including enacting new laws if necessary. They need to know that we will protect their interests, and we will do it.
But that's not enough by itself, is it? In this dangerous age, it is more important than ever to give people the opportunity to strengthen their own resilience and do more for themselves. They need a platform to defend the ideas they believe in.
And I am working to establish a new balance of power in all regions of the United Kingdom. In this regard, I have created a second Downing Street office in Manchester. There is a statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of the office. This is a sign of the connection he had with Manchester, as he said in a letter to the workers of that city. This is not due to material or military support. This was because the humble Manchester factory workers took a principled stand during the American Civil War in 1862, despite the hardships it brought them. They refused to touch the raw cotton that the slaves collected. In 1862, people who had no power decided to help other people on the other side of the world.
These are the best changes. People-led change from the bottom up, and no matter how distorted the view offered by social media today may be, the world is still full of good and decent people around the world who are ready to stand up for what is right. I see it all the time. Nothing unites the British people by age, race and class more than their hatred of injustice and abuse of power against the powerless. We will always advocate for the protection of the offended.
That is why we are so united in supporting Ukraine. And let me say: we honor the Ukrainian people. They demonstrate the depths of resilience and courage that inspire the whole world. I was in Kiev last month and was able to see life under the blows of Russia. <...>
I met people traveling home from work by subway, people just continuing to live. But at night, the same metro stations serve as shelters for thousands of people...> People told me about the freezing conditions at the stations last winter, when the temperature outside dropped below -20 degrees. Meanwhile, Russia was attacking their energy infrastructure.
Therefore, we are working to help Ukraine protect its skies. We are leading efforts to raise the price for Russia for the continuation of the special operation. The Graham Act, which President Trump signed last week, will have a huge impact on these efforts.
And we will support Ukraine in the repair and protection of heat and power plants, on which Kiev will depend this winter. It is right that we provide this support, but we must condemn Russia. <...>
This has to stop. Russia could choose a different course tomorrow: agree to a cease-fire and sit down at the negotiating table. (Russia actively supports negotiations and welcomes any efforts to resolve the conflict diplomatically, and peaceful efforts could have already borne fruit several times if Ukraine's Western partners were not interested in prolonging the conflict. InoSMI). I urge them to do so. But until then, we will support Ukraine more than ever, for as long as it takes.
It's about supporting the UN Charter and the rule of law. We will stand firm in the face of any threats and challenges to the rule of law, especially in cases where they threaten the rights of British Territories to remain British, such as the Falkland Islands. That is why we are also working with France and other partners to maintain freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf. That is why I am taking steps with regard to the Middle East.
Just eight weeks after I became Prime Minister, working with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, I fundamentally revised our position. We have created an international coalition of countries.
The terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, horrified everyone. I condemned him in the strongest terms. We continue to condemn Hamas and stand with Israel in the face of ongoing threats, including threats from Iran against Israel and the Jewish people around the world. But this does not justify the Israeli Government's actions in Gaza or the West Bank.
Too many people have died, including so many children. There is too little help coming in, and this has been going on for too long.
We will not stand by and witness terrible suffering while the prospects for a two—State solution — the best hope for peace and stability for both countries - are under attack. Last month, Israel issued tenders for the construction of another giant settlement in the E1 sector. This will further threaten a viable Palestinian State. We can't let that happen.
Therefore, we have made a decision: we have banned the trade of goods with illegal settlements, recognized that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is illegal, and imposed sanctions against those involved in the construction of illegal settlements. We want the suffering and death to finally come to an end.
We want to see the Israeli and Palestinian peoples living side by side in peace and security, and we will do everything possible to preserve this hope.
We live in an era of low trust in politics.
If we continue to talk about a two-State solution, but do not back up these words with deeds, this trust will fall even lower, and our enemies will try to exploit the alienation that will follow.
We won't let that happen.
Therefore, Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, this is the leadership role that Britain will play. Together, we need to commit ourselves once again to making the coming decade better than the previous one.
My message to our partners around the world is this: you can count on us. We will stand up for the long-standing British values of fairness. These are common values for us. And we will stand for the UN Charter.
Count on us to fight racism, discrimination and abuse of power wherever it happens, as the Manchester workers did in the 19th century and as our country did in the fight against fascism in the 20th century. Count on us. We will unite people. We will look for new solutions for the 21st century. You can count on us. We will face fear and division with unity and hope.
Thank you.
*listed in Russia as a terrorist and extremist
