MPs demand release of Mandelson–Starmer–Palantir meeting notes amid £250m contract row
More senior MPs have urged the government to publish notes from a meeting between Lord Mandelson, Sir Keir Starmer and Palantir CEO Alex Karp.
According to LBC.
The meeting reportedly took place in February 2025 in Washington, D.C., when Lord Mandelson was still serving as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.
At the time, the Labour peer held a 24% stake in the lobbying firm Global Counsel, which counted Palantir among its clients. The controversial AI company develops software platforms for governments and has been involved in the UK’s defence sector since 2022.
However, the connection between Global Counsel and Palantir was reportedly missing from the vetting into Lord Mandelson as Ambassador.
A £250million deal between the government and Palantir was then signed in December 2025, with notes from the meeting in February earlier that year not available.
Conservative MP Alex Burghart, a member of Kemi Badenoch’s Shadow Cabinet and former government minister, has told LBC: "For there not to be an official record, when the person who organised the meeting potentially had a business interest, is outrageous.”
A Cabinet Office Spokesperson said, "We will not speculate on what will be released. Peter Mandelson had no involvement in the award of the £240m contract to Palantir.
"There are robust processes in place to ensure government contracts are awarded fairly and transparently, including for the direct award of contracts. The justification for this award has been published online.
"All suppliers are subject to rigorous due diligence and must deliver value for money while complying with our security and legal obligations.”
It’s also been raised in the House of Lords, with Conservative Peer Baroness Finn asking: "In what circumstances visits by the Prime Minister to offices of external organisations which are not foreign governments are not required to be listed in the list of ministerial meetings; and whether the Prime Minister had discussions with representatives of (1) Palantir, and (2) Global Counsel, relating to government businesses during his visit to their offices in Washington with Lord Mandelson on 27 February 2025?”
In response, Labour Peer Baroness Anderson of Stoke on Trent stated:
"To clarify, it was not a meeting, and so minutes were not taken, therefore no reward (record) was made.”
On that February 2025 meeting, a spokesperson for Palantir told LBC “The event in question was a typical Government visit to a business, involving a media photocall. It provided an opportunity for the PM to meet with representatives of a company that is working with vital UK institutions, at an office located close to the White House, where he had just met with the President. At no point was any future contract discussed.”
Mr Burghart said "I think this whole thing stinks. Let’s have transparency. But the government is asking us to take them for their word and that’s just not good enough.
"Eventually the truth will out and I say this to the people not playing ball; at some point the cover up becomes the crime."
The first government contracts with Palantir were signed under the Conservative government, firstly in the NHS and has since expanded to the UK’s defence.
Mr Burghart, who was a government minister under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, explained, "My concern is with this government and how it’s been handled. If this had happened with any company I’d be concerned.”
This comes after Sir Ed Davey told LBC the potential involvement of Lord Mandelson and the Palantir contract “reeks.”
The Liberal Democrat Leader said “Frankly, there should be an investigation into all the meetings Mandelson had where subsequently there were contracts signed by the government.
“What we’ve seen in recent weeks and months should be a concern.”
It’s not just opposition parties calling for clarity on this either. Labour backbencher Rachael Maskell raised concerns in the Commons last week, following the release of a batch of files relating to Lord Mandelson.
The York Central MP has described the lack of minutes from that February 2025 meeting as an “anomaly.”
She told LBC "I’d have real concern if this was an unofficial visit and subsequent contracts were awarded.
"Just publish the minutes, it’s as simple as that. If there’s nothing to worry about, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be in the public domain.”
On the links between Global Counsel, Lord Mandelson and Palantir, Ms Maskell said “I don’t think the Prime Minister’s Office can say they didn’t know. They should know, they should be asking the in-depth questions.”
A spokesperson for Palantir said “The event in question was a typical Government visit to a business, involving a media photocall. It provided an opportunity for the PM to meet with representatives of a company that is working with vital UK institutions, at an office located close to the White House, where he had just met with the President. At no point was any future contract discussed.”
Lord Mandelson relinquished his shareholdings in Global Counsel in February, shortly before his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.
The lobbying firm has since collapsed with many staff reportedly being left out of pocket.
Lord Mandelson’s legal team have been approached for comment.
Deputy Editor
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