Palantir’s Tom Watson warns Labour against ‘mob rule’ on procurement

Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has expressed caution against a "mob rule" approach to procurement procedures, warning that his party may face "trouble" if they adopt such a stance. Lord Watson, who recently became a senior vice president at US tech giant Palantir, made the remarks while speaking to the BBC's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson.

He noted that Palantir has been targeted by individuals who are critical of Israeli companies, following the firm's contract with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Watson's appointment to Palantir has drawn criticism from left-wing activists due to his previous work with organizations involved in the Gaza protests. He alluded to a potential clash with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who is currently suing Palantir over the cancellation of a £50m deal with the Metropolitan Police following public outcry. Watson urged his former colleagues to prioritize the rule of law in procurement practices rather than giving in to "mob rule".

While some of the criticism Palantir receives is characterized as "propaganda", Watson acknowledged that there are legitimate concerns as well. The company is a major player in government contracts, having secured a £330m deal to provide the NHS Federated Data Platform and a £420m agreement with the Ministry of Defence. When asked about his compensation at Palantir, Watson declined to comment, stating that it "isn't bad".

He is among a growing number of political figures who have ventured into the tech industry, following in the footsteps of other ex-politicians such as Nick Clegg, Rishi Sunak, and George Osborne.