Russia's attempts to meddle in European politics show why Britain must forge a closer relationship with the European Union, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday, arguing that "the status quo is not good enough." Burnham said Moscow's "campaign of hybrid attacks" and efforts by Russia to destabilize democracies and interfere in votes, including Britain's 2016 EU membership referendum, highlight the importance of strengthening the U.K.'s ties with its neighbors, years after they were weakened by Brexit.

He told lawmakers in the House of Commons that it would be "a dereliction of duty" not to seek stronger ties with the 27-nation bloc that the U.K. left in 2020.

The statement comes after Burnham told the Labour Party's annual conference last month that "Brexit has done more harm than good" and that the bare-bones trade deal Britain has with the EU is holding the country back.