Tom Watson Defends Palantir's £330 Million NHS Deal as Backlash Hits UK Contracts
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 9
Tom Watson Defends Palantir's £330 Million NHS Deal as Backlash Hits UK Contracts
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 9
Summary
Tom Watson, now a Palantir senior vice-president, said UK ministers risk “a lot of trouble” if public contracts are swayed by “mob rule” rather than legal procurement rules.
The warning comes as Palantir faces mounting Labour and union pressure over its role in British public services, including a £330 million NHS software contract and a court fight over a blocked £50 million Met police AI deal.
Watson said Palantir has been targeted because of its work in Israel during Gaza protests, and added he would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns if asked.
Chi Onwurah, Labour chair of the science and technology committee, said the bigger risk is UK dependence on one US company whose data access is ultimately subject to US law.
Palantir is still seeking more UK public-sector work, where it already generates £427 million in annual turnover, making the procurement row a wider test of how Britain handles politically contentious tech suppliers.
Could a controversial foreign tech giant's expanding grip on UK services silently turn your private health records into a centralized surveillance dossier?
Are massive government contracts being won through technological superiority, or is the strategic hiring of former political heavyweights silencing ethical procurement?