"Palantir, an $300bn startup that provides military technology to the Israel Defense Forces and AI-powered deportation targeting for Donald Trump's ICE units, has UK government contracts worth more than 500m. Global Counsel, a lobbying company Mandelson co-founded and part-owns, also works for Palantir. The cabinet secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, is being urged to release information about Mandelson's role when the British embassy arranged for Keir Starmer to visit Palantir's showroom in Washington DC in February 2025 shortly after Mandelson became ambassador to the US."
"Karp signed a strategic partnership with the UK defence secretary, John Healey, seven months later and in January the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a 241m three-year contract with Palantir to boost military AI and innovation. What does the criminal investigation mean for Peter Mandelson? Foxglove, a fair tech campaign group, led calls for the Cabinet Office to release information relating to any involvement by Mandelson in the negotiation of Palantir's contracts."
"Alex Burghart, a Conservative MP and shadow chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, also urged Wormald to review Palantir's latest MoD contract given the allegations now coming to light about Mandelson's conduct. Starmer's meeting with Palantir did not appear in the prime minister's register of visits and was acknowledged only in subsequent disclosures, Burghart said. He said Palantir's MoD contract was granted by direct award without competition and asked that the cabinet secretary check there were no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings."
Peter Mandelson's links to Palantir face scrutiny amid fears he may have leaked information beyond alleged emails to Jeffrey Epstein. Palantir, an AI and defence company, holds UK government contracts over £500m. The British embassy arranged a February 2025 Palantir showroom visit in Washington DC for Keir Starmer shortly after Mandelson became ambassador; Starmer met CEO Alex Karp and saw military technology. Karp signed a strategic partnership with defence secretary John Healey and the MoD later awarded a major contract to Palantir. Campaign groups and MPs demand Cabinet Office transparency and a procurement review.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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