Mayor Sadiq Khan’s messages to be searched in Palantir legal dispute
High Court orders digital communications of the mayor and senior staff examined as part of a claim over a blocked £50 million AI contract for the Met Police
News London evidence indexOpen analysis ▾
Three independent outlets cite court documents and named legal representatives.
Higher is stronger
All three outlets quote affected parties and explain next steps clearly.
Higher is stronger
Headlines are proportionate and supported by the body text.
Lower is better
The High Court has ordered that the mayor’s text messages, emails and chat records be examined as part of Palantir’s lawsuit against the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac). The order also covers more than a dozen other senior officials, the court was told on Thursday.
Searches ordered for mayor and officials
Sadiq Khan convicted over untaxed Nissan Micra he says he does not own
City Hall insists the 2002 car is not linked to the Mayor or Transport for London
BBC London reported that the court will treat Lord Khan and the listed officials as “custodians”, meaning any relevant digital correspondence will be disclosed to Palantir. The Guardian added that the search will include text, WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams messages where they exist.
Mopac did not originally consider it necessary or proportionate for the mayor to be added as a custodian, given the decision was taken by the deputy mayor for policing and crime; however, Palantir has persisted in its requests, and Mopac has consented on a pragmatic basis.
Joseph Barrett KC, legal counsel for Mopac
The court has not yet fixed the exact date range for the searches. The Standard noted that the mayor’s communications will be examined for a period that includes the months when the contract was blocked. Sarah Brown, who moved to Downing Street in July, is also listed as a custodian.
James Cleverly quits shadow cabinet for London Mayor bid
Conservative MP announces intention to seek party's nomination for 2028 election.
Background to the blocked AI contract
In May, Mopac refused to approve a two‑year agreement that would have seen Palantir supply artificial‑intelligence tools to the Metropolitan Police for automated analysis of criminal investigations. The mayor’s office said the Met failed to present its procurement strategy to Mopac, describing the omission as a “clear and serious breach” of rules.
Palantir claims the decision amounted to an unlawful veto based on concerns about the firm’s values and ethics. The company is seeking a declaration that Mopac acted unlawfully, an order to overturn the block and an order that the contract be awarded to Palantir.
Legal claims and next steps
Palantir filed its claim in June, alleging that Mopac introduced an unlawful veto by weighing the firm’s ethical record. The High Court set a full hearing for January 2027, during which both sides will present further evidence. The Met has begun a new procurement process to replace the blocked deal.
Mopac confirmed that Sarah Brown initiated press briefings about the decision, a point highlighted in Palantir’s court documents. The mayor’s legal team said the inclusion of the mayor as a custodian was a pragmatic response to Palantir’s persistent requests.
Questions this report answers
+What communications will be searched?
The court will examine text messages, emails, WhatsApp chats and Microsoft Teams conversations belonging to the mayor and more than a dozen senior officials. Any material relevant to Palantir’s claim will be disclosed to the company.
+When is the full hearing scheduled?
A full hearing of the case is set for January 2027. Until that date, both parties will continue to exchange evidence, including the results of the communication searches.
+How much was the blocked contract worth?
The proposed agreement between the Metropolitan Police and Palantir was valued at £50 million for a two‑year period. The deal would have provided artificial‑intelligence tools for criminal investigations.
+Why did Mopac block the contract?
Mopac said the Metropolitan Police failed to submit its procurement strategy for approval, describing the omission as a clear and serious breach of procurement rules. The office argued it could not guarantee value for money without that information.
News London Desk
This article was written at the News London news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs News LondonCorrections
The London Ledger
A considered capital-wide edit delivered each morning.
More Coverage in Council & Politics
Sadiq Khan convicted over untaxed Nissan Micra he says he does not own
James Cleverly quits shadow cabinet for London Mayor bid
Poll: Labour leads, Reform UK second in 2028 mayoral race
