Lord Tom Watson says Palantir critics are ‘mob rule’

FORMER deputy leader of the Labour Party Lord Tom Watson sparked fresh outrage today as he dismissed critics of his new boss US spy tech Palantir’s controversial government contracts as “mob rule.” Co-founded by Trump-supporting billionaire Peter Thiel, the firm provides AI-powered software to the Israeli military and the White House’s Ice immigration crackdown and recently appointed Lord Watson as its senior vice-president. Labour MPs, medical unions and NHS campaigners have been urging PM Andy Burnham to ditch Palantir from government contracts, including a £330 million software deal with the health service. Lord Watson told the BBC: “One of the things I’d say to my former colleagues is: do you want to let the rule of law lead procurement practice, or do you want mob rule to lead procurement practices? Because you get yourself in a lot of trouble if you go down on the latter one.” He added he would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns if the situation arose. Labour-affiliated Socialist Health Association chair Rathi Guhadasan said: “What Tom Watson describes as ‘mob rule’ is simply democracy. “At Labour conference, I asked Mr Watson about concerns over the platform’s complete unsuitability for the NHS, citing public mistrust in data sharing… Mr Watson was unable to provide even a topline response to any of these concerns.” She cited YouGov polling that in July showed two in three Britons backed ending the £330m Federated Data Programme deal and that more than 44,000 patients have filed legal objections to their health records being handled by the FDP with NHS England and more than 40 public protests took place across the country last week. Science, innovation and technology committee chair Labour MP Chi Onwurah said: “Tom is not the first politician to be blinded by tech hype. The key issue is we can’t be so dependent on one company. It’s a US company, subject to US legislation regarding access to our data.” Keep Our NHS Public co-chair Dr John Puntis said: “Palantir has been accused of intensive lobbying and operating a ‘revolving door’ by buying up people with extensive contacts in areas in which it would like to gain a foothold. Watson is a prime and depressing example of this aspect of Palantir’s business ethic. “When he expresses concern over how contracts are awarded, he might have referred to the sleaze surrounding the company, its past representation by Peter Mandelson’s Global Counsel, and the fact that two-thirds of the FDP contract was redacted when published.” Palestine Solidarity Campaign officer Lewis Backon said: “The public are outraged by Palantir’s deep involvement in Israel’s genocide and apartheid against Palestinians, and other human rights abuses across the globe, and want it out of Britain’s public services. “Unelected Lord Watson describes it as ‘mob rule.’ It’s democracy.” Charlotte Khan, head of advocacy at Care4Calais said; “‘Lord’ Watson once led the charge in Parliament against companies misusing our data, like the Facebook — Cambridge Analytica scandal. Now he’s just a lackey for a Trump-linked company, with a history of enacting racist policies like Trump’s Ice deportations, and involved with the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza. “With a record like that, Palantir should be nowhere near UK public services, and having signed up to be a ‘mercenary’ for them, questions need to be asked whether ‘Lord’ Watson should have any place in public life either.” Patients and health workers unite at demos across England demanding the government cut ties with the spy tech firm The means of administration, like the means of production, must belong to the public and answer to it, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE