Sadiq Khan Blocks £50 Million Palantir-Met Deal as UK Scrutiny of Data Contracts Grows
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 2
Sadiq Khan Blocks £50 Million Palantir-Met Deal as UK Scrutiny of Data Contracts Grows
7 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 2
A £50 million contract between Palantir and London’s Metropolitan Police was blocked last month by Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said Londoners want public money spent on companies that share the city’s values.
The move lands amid widening criticism of the US data-analytics group’s role in British public services, from policing to the NHS and Ministry of Defence, with UK contracts totaling about £600 million.
Palantir, now valued at roughly $375 billion, has drawn opposition over work for clients including ICE and the Israeli military, as well as CEO Alex Karp’s pro-security, anti-"woke" rhetoric and manifesto.
Concerns have increasingly centered on sensitive data access: the Financial Times reported NHS England let Palantir and other contractors see patient data before anonymisation under a £330 million contract.
The backlash reflects broader unease in Britain over reliance on US tech firms for sovereign data and whether future US political pressure could reach systems embedded across government services.
Can Palantir’s AI-fueled growth survive the global backlash against its controversial contracts?
As Palantir's AI integrates public data, where is the line between government efficiency and state surveillance?
Is Palantir just a software vendor, or is it building its CEO's vision for a new world order?
£50 Million Palantir Veto: How London’s AI Policing Deal Sparked a National Reckoning on Tech Procurement, Ethics, and UK Sovereignty
Overview
In early 2026, London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a £50 million contract between the Metropolitan Police and Palantir after the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime found a clear and serious breach of procurement rules. The Met had failed to present a comprehensive procurement strategy or show real competition, with Palantir being the only supplier seriously considered. This decision raised major concerns about transparency and fair competition, sparking strong reactions from stakeholders and prompting calls for stricter requirements in future bids. The incident highlights the need for better oversight and more open, competitive processes in public sector technology contracts.