When Andy Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester, he kept Palantir out of the region's public services. Now, as prime minister, the same company sits at the centre of his first major political test: whether to cancel a £330 million contract with the UK's National Health Service.
The decision carries significant diplomatic weight. Cutting the contract would signal a hard line against Big Tech and could damage the UK's relationship with Washington, where Palantir has close ties to government and intelligence circles, according to the WIRED report.
The source highlights the personal and political contrast in Burnham's position. His earlier opposition to Palantir set a precedent, and his current choice will show whether that stance carries into his leadership or yields to external pressures.