Andy Burnham’s team will reportedly look to slow down the introduction of driverless cars in London as part of a strategy to protect British workers from AI.
The Financial Times reports that Burnham, who looks destined to be the new Labour leader and prime minister by the end of the month, will move away from the US-centric model of Keir Starmer’s government.
This will be part of a new tech and AI strategy, which will looks to ensure that AI technology works for British companies and the UK public rather than US tech giants.
READ NEXT: Labour MP reports Nigel Farage to standards watchdog over ‘crypto lobbying’
A source told the FT that “unfettered tech boosterism is a vote loser” and that the Starmer government strategy of courting US tech companies – an approach pushed by former US ambassador Peter Mandelson – had been a “geopolitical failure.”
A key concern of Team Burnham’s is addressing the impact that tech and AI could have on the UK job market.
One such example of this is in the introduction of driverless cars in London, something Burnham and his team seem keen to slow.
One person in his team asked “what’s the point and who’s it for,” voicing concerns about the impact driverless cars would have on black cab and Uber drivers.
Reacting on X, Sky News’ Sam Coates said Burnham’s approach to tech could represent a “major symbolic shift towards government actively slowing tech development to protect existing jobs.”
The FT’s report comes after the Telegraph reported that Burnham is set to ban Palantir from the NHS.
The publication said that Burnham did not grant a single contract to the controversial US tech giant during his time as Greater Manchester mayor, and is set to take a similar approach in Number 10.
Palantir is currently two years into a seven year, £330m deal with the NHS, which sees the health service’s Federated Data Platform run using Palantir’s tech.
Critics, including Labour MPs and unions, have called for the government to cut ties with the firm due to its work with the Israeli military and Donald Trump’s ICE operation.
There are also concerns about the Peter Thiel-founded company having access to the data of patients.
Earlier this year, it was reported that government ministers were exploring a way out the contract.
A break clause in the contract is coming up in March, with Burnham needing to inform Palantir by December if he does choose to cut ties.