A FORMER Labour deputy leader has been slammed after joining a controversial US tech firm which has links to Israel's genocide in Gaza and has assisted ICE operations.
Tom Watson, a Labour peer and former ministerial colleague of Andy Burnham, has been hired by Palantir as senior vice president in the UK.
He will work alongside Palantir's UK and Europe chief executive, Louis Mosley, as the company attempts to fend off pressure from "left-wing MPs" on the UK Government to axe its £330 million contract with the NHS, The Times reports.
The firm, co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel – a supporter of US president Donald Trump – is also currently suing London mayor Sadiq Khan , after he blocked a £50m contract between Palantir and the Metropolitan Police.
Palantir focuses on cloud storage and surveillance technology, and has been used by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to target, identify and locate immigrants in the US.
The company has been accused of selling its services to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and has been identified as “profiting from genocide” in Gaza, according to Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Palantir said Watson's job would be, in part, to "deepen the social and economic value its work creates through better British public services, jobs and skills".
Watson became a part-time adviser to Palantir in 2024, accompanying Mosley at Labour Party conferences.
He was previously a defence minister and a minister for digital engagement in Gordon Brown's government.
Palantir currently has a £240m contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Watson described Palantir as "the most interesting company on the planet, doing work of real consequence".
He said: "We have challenges. Some criticism is propaganda. Some raises legitimate questions about large technology companies and sovereign control. Both require answers.
"Part of my role will be to correct false information while working with our engineers to ensure privacy, security and respect for sovereignty are at the heart of everything we do."
After six wonderful years at UK Music, I'm joining Palantir UK as Senior Vice President. Palantir is the most interesting company on the planet, doing work of real consequence: helping Britain and its allies defend themselves, helping police protect our citizens and helping NHS… pic.twitter.com/Kb3ZP2F5um
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) September 18, 2026
Watson has faced an onslaught of criticism online for his decision to take on the role.
Green Party MP Sian Berry claimed Lord Watson has been employed by Palantir “to lobby his friends in the Labour Government” and branded it a “disgrace” that he still holds the Labour whip.
She said: “Palantir, with its work for Ice in the US and the IDF, has no business at all in our NHS and public services.
“Tom Watson has been employed to lobby his friends in the Labour Government.
“It is a disgrace he is still a member of the House of Lords and holds the Labour whip.
“This is yet another example of the corrosive revolving door between politics and big business lobbying that has no place in public life.”
According to the Guardian, Palantir said Watson had taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords and had relinquished his parliamentary pass while working for Palantir in London.
