Clive Lewis challenges Tom Watson to public debate over Palantir

Labour MP Clive Lewis has challenged Lord Tom Watson to a public debate over Palantir, the US data giant the former Labour deputy leader now helps to run in Britain.

In a letter dated 7 October, the Norwich South MP rejects Watson’s written defence of the company and proposes an openly chaired debate instead, with equal time for both men and questions from the audience.

Lewis wrote: “Rather than exchange lengthy written rebuttals, I suggest we debate these questions openly.”

The letter answers one Watson sent after Lewis raised concerns about the peer’s new role and the firm’s public contracts. Lewis said Watson’s reply raised points that merited “a fuller public discussion,” but also illustrated “some of the opaque and misleading arguments used to defend Palantir”.

He dismissed the suggestion that he was maligning Watson’s colleagues at the firm. Lewis wrote: “Come on, Tom. We’ve both been around long enough to recognise a straw man when we see one.”

His criticism, he said, was aimed at decisions made by Palantir’s leadership and by the governments awarding it public contracts. Lewis wrote: “Talented young engineers deserve credit for their work but that doesn’t exempt their employers from scrutiny.”

Under his proposal, Watson would make the case for Palantir, its corporate ethos and the role private technology companies should play. Lewis would argue for public accountability, democratic control and public institutions capable of governing “the systems on which we all depend”.

He framed the challenge as bigger than one company. Lewis wrote: “Who owns these systems, who controls them and to whom they are accountable should be matters of public debate.”

“Public deserves to hear both sides”

Posting the letter, Lewis said: “Instead of trading endless letters, I’ve challenged him to a public, openly chaired debate. He can defend Palantir’s ethos, while I set out the case for democratic control and public accountability. The public deserves to hear both sides and judge for itself. Will you accept, Tom?”

Palantir named Watson senior vice-president for the UK last month, promoting him from an advisory role he had held since 2024. He left his post as chair of UK Music to take the job.

Announcing the move on X, Watson called Palantir “the most interesting company on the planet”. He has reportedly taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords, with his parliamentary pass suspended while he works for the firm.

The appointment comes as Palantir’s UK contracts face mounting political pressure. The government is reviewing its £330m NHS Federated Data Platform contract ahead of a break clause in February 2027. The firm also holds a £240m Ministry of Defence contract and is taking legal action against London mayor Sadiq Khan over his decision to block a £50m deal with the Metropolitan Police.

Watson’s move has provoked a sharp backlash across the left. Green party peers Natalie Bennett and Jenny Jones have written to the lord speaker calling for his permanent expulsion from the Lords, arguing that the role creates a serious conflict of interest.

At Labour’s conference in Liverpool last month, delegates tabled a motion urging the Burnham government to cancel the NHS contract. The motion cited Watson’s appointment as an example of links between senior politicians and private firms that erode public trust.

Critics also point to Palantir’s work with the Israeli military and its ties to Donald Trump’s administration. Palantir says its software has been used by the Israel Defense Forces only to help locate hostages.

Lewis is one of parliament’s most persistent Palantir critics. In the Commons in February he said the firm’s Ministry of Defence deal “stinks” and he has argued the NHS should build its own data systems rather than hand them to a private US contractor.