Labour Government Faces Pressure Over Palantir NHS Contract
The UK government faces scrutiny over a £330m NHS contract with Palantir following revelations that a prime ministerial campaign advisor previously lobbied for the firm.
The Labour government is facing mounting pressure to terminate a £330m contract between NHS England and the US tech company Palantir for a national medical data system. Critics demand the deal be scrapped due to Palantir's history of providing software to US immigration enforcement and the Israeli military in Gaza.
Scrutiny has intensified following reports that Martha Dalton, co-founder of the lobbying firm Lodestone, held a senior role in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's campaign. Lodestone previously worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, promoting the company's AI software to British MPs. A Labour spokesperson stated that rules to manage potential conflicts of interest were followed during the campaign.
While Palantir executive Louis Mosley claims the technology reduces hospital waiting times, other Labour officials have distanced themselves from the firm. London Mayor Sadiq Khan previously blocked the Metropolitan Police from awarding a £50m AI contract to the company. Protests against the NHS deal have already occurred among health workers at the Labour party conference in Liverpool.
