Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader and current peer, has taken up a post with US artificial intelligence company Palantir, the firm said on Thursday, as it seeks to bolster its profile while defending several high‑value public contracts in the UK.
New role comes amid pressure over public-sector deals
Palantir said Watson would work alongside its UK and Europe chief executive, Louis Mosley, with a brief that includes strengthening the social and economic contribution of the company’s work in British public services. The appointment comes as the company faces political and legal challenges related to contracts with the NHS, the Metropolitan Police and the Ministry of Defence.
The move coincides with efforts to counter calls from Labour figures in government to terminate a controversial £330m NHS contract. Separately, Palantir is engaged in litigation with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, after the mayor blocked a proposed £50m arrangement to deploy Palantir’s AI tools in police investigations. The company also holds a Ministry of Defence agreement worth £240m and reports annual UK turnover of £427m, figures provided by the company and reported in national coverage.
| Contract / Figure | Amount |
|---|---|
| NHS contract under scrutiny | £330m |
| Metropolitan Police proposed use | £50m |
| Ministry of Defence contract | £240m |
| Reported UK turnover | £427m |
Company background and controversies
Palantir, co‑founded by the US investor Peter Thiel, provides data analysis and AI software used by a range of clients, reportedly including elements of the Israeli military and US immigration agencies. Those relationships have previously generated public and political criticism over the firm’s expanding role in public-sector work.
“This is just the latest chapter of Tom’s forty‑year fight for better public services. We are fortunate to have him guide us as we help the British government to deliver for the British public.”
The company’s chief executive, Alex Karp, made the comment on Watson’s appointment. Palantir also said Watson had acted as a part‑time adviser since 2024 and had accompanied the firm’s executives to political party conferences.
Watson’s experience and the broader ‘revolving door’
Watson served in government under Gordon Brown as a defence minister and minister for digital engagement, and was Labour’s deputy leader while in the Commons. Since leaving parliament in 2019 he has undertaken advisory roles across sectors, including gambling and music, and his new position at Palantir was described by the company as aimed at deepening the “social and economic value” of its UK work.
Commentators have pointed to the appointment as part of a wider pattern of former ministers and senior politicians moving into paid roles with major technology firms. In recent years a number of high‑profile ex‑ministers and senior politicians have taken positions with US tech groups, prompting debate about lobbying, access and the regulation of post‑government employment.
- Watson will work with Palantir’s UK and Europe chief, Louis Mosley.
- The appointment arrives while Palantir contests a London mayoral decision and faces scrutiny over NHS and defence work.
- Palantir says Watson had been a part‑time adviser since 2024.
The company has framed the hire as a way to reinforce engagement with British public services; critics are likely to focus on potential conflicts and the optics of a former senior Labour figure joining a firm that has polarised opinion over its international work. The appointment is expected to renew calls for tighter rules on post‑government employment and clearer transparency about lobbying and consultancy arrangements involving former ministers and party figures.
Palantir and Watson have made public statements to mark the appointment. There has been no immediate comment from the Labour leadership on the move.
