2 min read17 September
British diplomats sought to reassure Trump officials Andy Burnham wouldn’t target US tech firms days before he became Prime Minister, PoliticsHome can reveal.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, British officials said at a meeting in July Burnham would not launch a “clamp down” on social media in tech, with Burnham focused on economic growth.
The diplomats said Burnham was aware of the British reliance on US tech firms for growth, as seen in the UK’s response to the Defence Investment Plan. British Ambassador to the US Christian Turner sought to reassure US diplomats that any changes from recent legislation would likely not happen quickly, with the Online Safety Act taking nearly a decade from concept to implementation.
In spite of the meeting, earlier this week PoliticsHome reported that British officials were hauled in to the US embassy on Monday and dressed down over the Online Safety Act, along with their plans to ban under-16s from social media and prioritise public broadcasters’ prominence online.
At the earlier meeting in July, it is understood Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers warned the UK against overregulating AI, saying chatbots would become “lobotomized” if overregulated, and that users would assume they were government propaganda.
The officials said that anti-big tech politicians were “not on the same page” as Burnham, comparing him to vice-president JD Vance due to his focus on marginalised communities.
A UK government source told PoliticsHome that the major risks from AI crossed borders, and therefore engaging with international partners was of the upmost importance.
Separately, the UK’s Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Collins also held talks with the US Office for Science and Technology Policy about reviving the UK’s Tech Prosperity Deal with the US.
When the deal was initially signed in September last year, Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the deal as “a generational step change in our relationship with the US” during Donald Trump’s state visit. However, the deal was ultimately suspended by Washington months later, with officials saying the UK had made insufficient progress in lowering trade barriers.
As of yet, publicly, no progress has been made in restarting the deal, but privately PoliticsHome understands discussions are ongoing. A UK government source said that the UK would continue to engage on issues like the Tech Prosperity Deal in the near future.
A UK government spokesperson said: “As close allies, UK and US officials meet regularly to discuss shared priorities. We are committed to ensuring that our trade and security continues to deliver real benefits for hardworking people on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The US State Department was contacted for comment.
