Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader and a senior vice-president at Palantir, has warned UK ministers against allowing public protests to influence government procurement decisions. Speaking after joining the US technology company, Watson said ministers risked “a lot of trouble” if they allowed what he called “mob rule” to replace the rule of law in awarding contracts.
Watson said Palantir had become a target because of its work with Israel, although he stressed that the company was not Israeli. Palantir has also supplied technology to US immigration authorities, developments that have fueled opposition to its expanding role in British public services.
Parliamentary debate has focused on the contract’s cost, reliance on a US supplier and safeguards for confidential patient information.
Watson also said Palantir would work with a Reform UK government on immigration enforcement if asked, while acknowledging that the company did not currently operate in that sector. He described Palantir as the most interesting company in the world when his appointment was announced.
His comments came as opposition to the company’s public-sector work intensified. Chi Onwurah, the Labour chair of the Commons science, innovation and technology committee, said the UK should not become dependent on one company and raised concerns that Palantir could be subject to US laws governing access to data.
A separate dispute over a proposed £50 million artificial-intelligence system for Metropolitan Police investigations ended in October after Palantir and the mayor’s policing office agreed to drop their legal claims. The parties said the mayor’s office had not rejected the deal because of Palantir’s values or ethics, but had assessed the proposal under procurement, governance, affordability and value-for-money rules. A new competitive procurement process is under way, with Palantir allowed to bid.
Watson has taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords and surrendered his parliamentary pass while working for the company; he previously served as a defence minister and digital-engagement minister under Gordon Brown and had advised Palantir part time since 2024.