Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts
Former Labour deputy leader says tech firm would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who recently joined Palantir, has warned against “mob rule” when it comes to awarding public contracts. Lord Watson, now a senior vice-president at the US tech corporation, warned UK ministers could get themselves “in a lot of trouble” as he was…
Lord Tom Watson, former Labour deputy leader and now a senior vice-president at Palantir, has cautioned against "mob rule" dictating the awarding of government contracts. The tech firm, co-founded by Peter Thiel, has faced backlash for its AI-powered software provided to the Israeli military and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
The UK government is under pressure to distance itself from Palantir, including a £330 million NHS software deal. Watson warned that allowing public procurement to be driven by "mob rule" could lead to legal troubles. He stated that Palantir would consider working with a Reform UK government on immigration issues if the need arose, despite not being directly involved in that sector.
Watson, a former defence minister, called Palantir "the most interesting company on the planet" and announced his new role aimed at increasing the social and economic value of public services through improved British public services, jobs, and skills.
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