Palantir Says London Mayor Blocked £50m Met Police AI Deal

Context Khan’s office halted the two‑year deal after determining there had been a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules. The contract would have let Palantir automate intelligence processing for criminal investigations, building on a smaller pilot worth under £500 000 that already used AI to spot rogue officers. Scotland Yard said the loss of the technology would force it to cut officer numbers, weakening its ability to keep London safe.

Key Facts Palantir UK head Louis Mosley said the mayor put politics above public safety, claiming Londoners care most about not being mugged or raped by a serving police officer. He argued that blocking the deal compromises those safety priorities. In response, Labour MP Stella Creasy told Mosley he should be ashamed, accusing him of using the serious issue of officer sexual abuse to attack the mayor and boost his company’s profits. Creasy said such tactics show Palantir is not fit to lecture anyone on values.

What It Means The disagreement has exposed a split within Labour, with some MPs backing Khan’s decision as a defence of city values, while others, including Business Secretary Peter Kyle, praise Palantir’s unique capabilities and urge the mayor to justify his move. Khan has previously said Londoners only want public money to go to firms that share the city’s values, a stance that puts him at odds with central government deals worth hundreds of millions with Palantir in NHS and defence contracts. The Met’s federation warned that extending Palantir’s role without competitive bids creates a “big brother” risk, highlighting concerns over unchecked AI surveillance.

What to watch next Watch for any formal appeal or legal challenge from Palantir, further statements from Labour leaders on the party’s tech‑ethics line, and whether the mayor’s office will revisit the procurement process to allow rival bids.