I’m here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, supporting UK SMEs and wider industry partners attending the World Defence Show 2026. Defence is an engine for growth, and the UK is proud to stand with Saudi Arabia in difficult times and to build on our partnership and friendship. pic.twitter.com/Ql0iCG5uPH
— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) February 9, 2026
He said:
This Government took over what the Tories started in 2022, but we made it work better for Britain and better for our forces. As the Defence Secretary has said, the contract was his decision, and his alone. Peter Mandelson had no influence on the decision to award this contract
I have been clear in my answers today that the decision to extend the 2022 contract signed under the previous Government was made by the Secretary of State alone. It was his decision to do so.
Jeremy Corbyn asked whether Britain should be entangled with a company complicit in the destruction of Gaza, a company that had, in his words, “wormed” its way into UK government contracts and the NHS.
“A trap”: Palantir links to Epstein Slammed
When I was in opposition, I raised concerns about Palantir and the £1 deal that was made. It was always a trap to ensure that Palantir got its foot in where no one else could. The co-founder of Palantir is mentioned in the Epstein files. I think that anyone who is mentioned in the Epstein files should be fully investigated by this House and by the police; the scandal is an absolute disgrace.
Labour’s Clive Lewis had already called the whole affair a stink. Chowns agreed.
The govt is refusing to commit to an inquiry into the MOD's contracts with US-based spy tech giant Palantir despite the web of shady connections between Mandelson, Epstein, and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel – this absolutely stinks. pic.twitter.com/UDVi7P7GmO
— Dr Ellie Chowns MP (@EllieChowns) February 10, 2026
We agree — it is a stinking mess!













“I’m here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, supporting UK SMEs and wider industry partners attending the World Decapitating Children Show 2026. Decapitating children is an engine for growth, and the UK is proud to stand with Saudi Arabia which has a proud record of removing the heads from many thousands of Yemeni children between 2015 and 2021, with the assistance of our brave boys and girls in the Royal Air Force.”