Palantir's Tom Watson warns against 'mob rule' in awarding government contracts
Tom Watson, a former Labour deputy leader who is now a senior vice-president at Palantir, told a BBC podcast that ministers risk "a lot of trouble" if "mob rule" rather than the rule of law shapes procurement. The comments come amid pressure on the government and Sadiq Khan over Palantir contracts.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Lord Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who recently became a senior vice-president at the US tech firm Palantir, has warned against "mob rule" in the awarding of public contracts. The GuardianLC “Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who recently joined Palantir, has warned against “mob rule” when it comes to awarding public contracts.” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC “Lord Watson, who became a senior vice president at the US tech giant in September” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Speaking on the BBC podcast Political Thinking with Nick Robinson, Watson asked former colleagues whether they wanted "the rule of law" or "mob rule" to lead procurement practice, and said they would "get yourself in a lot of trouble" with the latter. The GuardianLC “do you want to let the rule of law lead procurement practice, or do you want to let mob rule to lead procurement practices? Because you get yourself in a lot of trouble if you go down on the latter one.” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC ““Because you get yourself in a lot of trouble if you go down on the latter one.”” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Watson said Palantir is "very targeted by the people that are targeting Israeli companies" and, though it is not an Israeli company, found itself "in the middle of the row of the Gaza protests" because of its work in Israel. The GuardianLC “We’re not an Israeli company, but because of our work in Israel, we found ourselves in the middle of the row of the Gaza protests.” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC “said Palantir is “very targeted by the people that are targeting Israeli companies”” Read at City A.M. ↗
Left · 1According to the Guardian, Watson also said Palantir would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns if the situation arose, adding: "We don't actually work in that sector, but yes, of course we would." The GuardianLC “We don’t actually work in that sector, but yes, of course we would.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Right · 1City A.M. reports that Watson described some criticism of the firm as "propaganda" and some as "legitimate questions", and declined to give details of their pay package, saying only "it's not bad". City A.M.RC “He added some criticism against the firm was “propaganda” and others raised “legitimate questions”.”“Watson declined to comment on his pay package at the tech giant when grilled, but said “it’s not bad”.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Palantir was co-founded by the billionaire Peter Thiel and has supplied software to the Israeli military and to US immigration enforcement (ICE), which has prompted a public and political backlash over its role in British public services. The GuardianLC “Palantir was co-founded by the Trump-supporting billionaire Peter Thiel and has provided AI-powered software to the Israeli military and the White House’s ICE immigration crackdown” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC “due to the firm’s contract with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and US’ Immigration and Customers Enforcement” Read at City A.M. ↗
Mixed · 2The Guardian says Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under significant pressure from Labour MPs and unions to drop Palantir from government contracts, including a £330m NHS software deal; City A.M. also cites that NHS Federated Data Platform deal and a £420m Ministry of Defence agreement. The GuardianLC “The prime minister, Andy Burnham, is under significant pressure from Labour MPs and unions to ditch Palantir from government contracts, including a £330m software deal with the NHS.” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC “a £330m deal to provide the NHS Federated Data Platform and a £420m agreement with the Ministry of Defence” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Palantir is also suing London mayor Sadiq Khan after he blocked a £50m contract to use its AI in Metropolitan Police investigations; the Guardian says the company has an annual UK turnover of £427m. The GuardianLC “The company is also fighting Sadiq Khan in court over the London mayor’s block on a £50m contract to use its AI in Metropolitan police investigations.” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC “Sadiq Khan, who is being sued by Palantir after blocking a £50m deal with the Metropolitan police following backlash” Read at City A.M. ↗ Left · 1Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP who chairs the science, innovation and technology committee, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Watson is "not the first politician to be blinded by tech hype" and that the UK cannot be so dependent on one US company subject to US legislation on access to data. The GuardianLC “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.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Mixed · 2Watson, who was a defence minister and digital engagement minister under Gordon Brown and has advised Palantir part-time since 2024, has taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords and given up their parliamentary pass; City A.M. links the leave to the return of their cancer. The GuardianLC “Palantir said Watson had taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords and had relinquished his parliamentary pass while he works for the company in London.” Read at The Guardian ↗ City A.M.RC “He is currently on a leave of absence from the Lords following the return of his cancer.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Right · 1City A.M. places the move in a pattern of politicians joining big tech, naming Nick Clegg at Meta, Rishi Sunak at Microsoft and Anthropic, and George Osborne at OpenAI. City A.M.RC “Former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg spent nearly seven years at Meta, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken roles at Microsoft and Anthropic and former Chancellor George Osborne works with OpenAI.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on the political controversy: Palantir's ties to Israel's military and ICE, pressure on PM Andy Burnham from Labour MPs and unions, and a critical Labour MP's response.
- Emphasis
- Watson's willingness to work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns, the backlash, and Chi Onwurah's dependency warning.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Watson's pay answer, Watson's remark that some criticism is legitimate, the £420m MoD deal or Watson's health.
- Charged language
- “Trump-supporting billionaire”“immigration crackdown”
- For example
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“The prime minister, Andy Burnham, is under significant pressure from Labour MPs and unions to ditch Palantir from government contracts” — The Guardian
“Tom is not the first politician to be blinded by tech hype.” — The Guardian
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents it as a business and procurement story: Watson warning Labour, with their pay, Palantir's contracts and the wider drift of politicians into big tech.
- Emphasis
- Watson's distinction between 'propaganda' and 'legitimate questions', pay package, £420m MoD deal and comparisons with Clegg, Sunak and Osborne.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the Reform UK remark, Chi Onwurah's criticism and the pressure on Burnham from Labour MPs and unions.
- Charged language
- “mob rule”“left-wing activists”“collision cause”
What every side reports
- Watson, a former Labour deputy leader, is now a senior executive at Palantir.
- Watson warned on the BBC's Political Thinking that 'mob rule' in procurement could cause trouble for Labour.
- Watson said Palantir is targeted by those targeting Israeli companies, though it is not Israeli.
- Palantir holds a £330m NHS contract and is suing Sadiq Khan over a blocked £50m Met Police deal.
- Watson has a leave of absence from the Lords and gave up their parliamentary pass.
Where accounts differ
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Why Watson is on leave from the House of Lords
- Left
- The Guardian says Palantir stated the leave was taken while Watson works for the company in London.
- Right
- City A.M. says the leave followed the return of Watson's cancer, and that the pass was given up after accepting the Palantir role.
Tom Watson person
Argues procurement should follow the rule of law rather than 'mob rule', says Palantir is caught up in Gaza protests because of its work in Israel, and says some criticism is propaganda while some raises legitimate questions.
“I think we are very targeted by the people that are targeting Israeli companies.” — The Guardian
“He added some criticism against the firm was “propaganda” and others raised “legitimate questions”.” — City A.M.
Palantir organisation
Presents Watson's role as deepening the social and economic value of its work through better British public services, jobs and skills; it is challenging Sadiq Khan's block of a £50m Met Police contract in court.
“deepen the social and economic value its work creates through better British public services, jobs and skills” — The Guardian
“The company is also fighting Sadiq Khan in court over the London mayor’s block on a £50m contract” — The Guardian
Left1 article
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Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts
Critical Reports Watson's remarks against a backdrop of political backlash, ICE and Israel links, and Labour pressure on the prime minister, ending with a critical MP's response.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Palantir’s Tom Watson warns Labour against ‘mob rule’ on procurement
Neutral Business-focused account of Watson's warning to Labour, with pay, contract values and comparisons with other politicians joining tech firms.
- 9 Oct 08:20 First The GuardianLC Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts
- 9 Oct 15:45 +7h 25m City A.M.RC Palantir’s Tom Watson warns Labour against ‘mob rule’ on procurement
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.