Healthcare campaigners MedAct and Just Treatment are staging protests at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool and in London, urging ministers not to extend Palantir’s NHS data platform contract. The debate matters because the government is weighing whether to continue a major role for the US technology company in managing NHS data, amid concerns about patient trust, data security and dependence on one supplier.

Palantir won the lead role in the Federated Data Platform (FDP) contract in 2023; the deal could be worth up to £330 million over seven years, with its initial term ending early next year and extensions available. A parliamentary committee recommended against extending it in 2027, while NHS data leaders say the platform has not shown sufficient evidence of value; the BMA, UNISON and others have also raised concerns. Campaigners say more than 85,000 patients have lodged formal complaints, while NHS England and Palantir argue the platform helps hospitals use beds and operating theatres efficiently and reduce backlogs.