A cross-party group of MPs on the Health and Social Care Select Committee has formally urged the Labour Party to scrap the NHS’s £330 million contract with the US tech firm Palantir. This intervention marks the second parliamentary committee to call for the deal's termination, intensifying scrutiny on the next Prime Minister regarding government agreements with the controversial company.
The MPs' recommendation follows a similar call last month from the Science and Technology Committee. Both committees advocate for the NHS to cut ties with Palantir and explore alternative solutions for its Federated Data Platform (FDP), which is designed to consolidate and analyse vast quantities of sensitive health data. The Health Committee cited 'serious mistrust' among the public and medical professionals, questioning the platform's claimed benefits and highlighting the availability of other tools that could achieve similar outcomes.
The committees specifically recommend activating a break clause in the contract, exercisable in February 2027, to either develop an in-house replacement system or seek a UK-based alternative. This parliamentary pressure builds on concerns previously voiced by up to 117 NHS data and technology workers, who warned that the deal could compromise patient privacy and erode public trust, potentially harming the quality of vital health data.
Concerns surrounding Palantir stem partly from its co-founder, Peter Thiel, a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, and its work with various military organisations, including those in the US, Israel, and the UK. Alex Karp, Palantir's chief executive, last year made remarks in response to claims about its technology's use, stating, 'mostly terrorists, that's true.' These associations and comments have fuelled unease among critics. Last May, London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a £50 million contract for Palantir with the Metropolitan Police, citing concerns about the company's alignment with London's values, a decision Palantir is challenging in the High Court.
Layla Moran MP, Liberal Democrat Chair of the Health Committee, stated that the government's arguments for retaining the FDP are 'unravelling.' She emphasised that, for the sake of public confidence in the NHS and the security of medical information, it is time to prepare for an alternative. Palantir, which has held the contract with NHS England since 2023, defends its technology. Louis Mosley, Palantir’s UK and Europe chief, has asserted that critics prioritise 'ideology over patient safety' and maintains that the technology has been instrumental in reducing surgery waiting lists and accelerating cancer diagnoses. A Palantir spokesperson added that their software aids in delivering better patient care, citing 110,000 additional operations and a 15% reduction in discharge delays, while stressing that the NHS controls how the software is used and how data is processed.
The health workers' union, Unison, has also weighed in, with its head of health, Helga Pile, stating that the government must not allow the NHS to be 'captured by firms like Palantir which prioritise profits over ethics.' The union argues that the health service must retain ownership and control over patient data systems, which are deemed highly sensitive and critical infrastructure.