Labour delegates seek to cancel Palantir’s NHS contract

Labour conference considers ending Palantir’s £330m NHS contract

An emergency motion calling for the cancellation of US-based Palantir’s £330 million contract with the NHS was submitted to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The motion raised concerns about the company’s human rights record and political connections related to its contract for the NHS Federated Data Platform.

Scraper SystemSeptember 26, 2026, 07:05 PM

Labour conference considers ending Palantir’s £330m NHS contract

Palantir, a US-based technology company, came under discussion at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool over its £330 million contract with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Delegates attending the conference are pressing the government to cancel the contract.

An emergency motion submitted by the Socialist Health Association and at least three Labour Party local organisations called on the Department of Health and Social Care to use the termination clause in Palantir’s contract to operate the NHS Federated Data Platform.

Palantir software brings NHS data together

The NHS Federated Data Platform uses Palantir’s artificial intelligence-powered data analysis software to combine information from different parts of the health service. The platform enables hospitals to examine data more easily and identify potential areas for improvement.

The motion also raised allegations that Palantir had been involved in human rights violations. It included claims that the company had developed technology for use by the Israeli military in its occupation of Palestinian territories and attacks in Gaza.

Motion also points to political connections

The motion highlighted the appointment of Labour member Lord Tom Watson as a senior vice president at Palantir’s UK division. Its sponsors argued that connections between senior politicians and private companies could undermine voters’ trust when public contracts are awarded.

The UK Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee and Health and Social Care Committee called on the government to use the termination clause in the contract signed in 2023, which takes effect in February 2027. The British Medical Association and the Unison trade union also called for the clause to be used.

Decision pending on vote on emergency motion

Rathi Guhadasan, president of the Socialist Health Association, said allegations concerning Palantir’s human rights record were sufficient to exclude the company from government contracts. Guhadasan also argued that evidence within the NHS showed the company’s technology was not fit for purpose or cost-effective.

The conference committee will decide on Saturday whether the emergency motion will be debated and put to a vote at the Labour Party’s annual conference, which will begin in Liverpool. Momentum and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign support the motion.

Labour conference considers ending Palantir’s £330m NHS contract