# A national centre for information defence

> “It is why, in my speech to the UN General Assembly, I confirmed our commitment to establish a new centre for information defence, as recommended by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.”
>
> — Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, Labour Party; Commons statement, 12 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Defence](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/defence)
- **Speaker:** [Andy Burnham](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/andy-burnham), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 12 October 2026
- **Where:** Commons statement
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** The UK public and its institutions, against disinformation campaigns run by foreign states
- **When:** Not stated
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-10-12/debates/54FB2EDB-83AF-40FE-8A98-A914AD221CD7/InternationalUpdate (checked word for word on 13 October 2026; Open Parliament Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 13 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-information-defence-centre-2026

## Where it stands

The Prime Minister told the Commons he had confirmed the commitment in his speech to the UN General Assembly, following a recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. The Home Secretary repeated it the same day, describing a national centre to tackle disinformation from states. No date, cost or lead department has been published.

## Timeline

- 12 October 2026, Promised: The Prime Minister confirms to the Commons the commitment to set up a new centre for information defence

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Hansard, House of Commons, 12 Oct 2026: International Update (PM's statement)](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-10-12/debates/54FB2EDB-83AF-40FE-8A98-A914AD221CD7/InternationalUpdate)
- [Hansard, House of Commons, 12 Oct 2026: National Security (Home Secretary's statement)](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-10-12/debates/BAD9E091-76DE-478A-AD67-00B68C6E7FEE/NationalSecurity)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 13 October 2026.

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