Politically Speaking column with Jon Trickett MP: Britain must rethink its relationship with Palantir
The National Health Service is one of our country's greatest achievements. It was built on the principle that healthcare should be provided according to need, not ability to pay. It is there for us when we are at our most vulnerable.
Therefore, the NHS is highly dependent on public trust. Patients must know that their most sensitive information is being handled safely and used in the public interest.
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has issued a stark warning. It has described the growing role of the American tech company, Palantir, in our public services as an “unacceptable point of weakness” and recommended that the government trigger the break clause in the company’s £330 million NHS contract that was awarded by the last Conservative government.
Many people will have heard the name Palantir but won’t know much about them. They are a powerful American multinational specialising in data analytics and artificial intelligence. They have deep roots in the American military and intelligence services. Their bosses have explicitly said they pursue American foreign policy objectives.
Now, the NHS holds some of the most sensitive information in our country. It is not simply a question of privacy, but also a question of national sovereignty. Britain should not become dependent on a company with close ties to foreign intelligence services for the management of critical national infrastructure.
Britain classes the USA as an ally. But governments change and interests diverge. Recent years have shown how long held alliances can fracture. You only need to look at Donald Trump’s destructive war in the Middle East and his threats to Greenland to see that he is not a reliable partner. At a time of growing international uncertainty, Britain should be reducing our dependency on the US, not deepening it.
In recent years, Palantir’s influence has spread across the whole British state. I believe we need a comprehensive review of all public contracts awarded to the company, greater transparency and a serious strategy to develop British technological capability rather than outsourcing it abroad. Reports in the Morning Star newspaper this week showed that the most senior civil servant at the Health Department had close relations to Palantir at the time they won their NHS contract. This needs to be investigated promptly.
Recent events in London have shown that it is possible to stand up to Palantir. The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, blocked a proposed £50 million contract between Palantir and the Metropolitan Police after serious questions were raised about the procurement process. He also made clear that the values of companies entrusted with public responsibilities matter. I support his decision.
Britain needs its own world-class digital systems. But we should build them in a way that protects democratic accountability, national security and public trust. The NHS belongs to the British people. Our data must be protected. The government should listen to the select committee, trigger the break clause in Palantir’s contract and restore democratic control over the digital foundations of our public services.