Green Party accuses Labour of being ‘charmed by corporate lobbyists’ over AI data centres
A new report has revealed that 84% of ministerial meetings on data centres were with businesses or trade associations
The Green Party has accused Labour of being “charmed by corporate lobbyists” over AI data centres.
This comes after a Spotlight on Corruption report found that businesses have had unequal access to ministers when it comes to consultations about AI growth zones.
The report revealed that 84% of ministerial stakeholder meetings on data centres were with businesses or private-sector trade associations.
By comparison, ministers met just two community groups – and both after the government had already decided to designate their areas as AI Growth Zones.
Ministers, permanent secretaries, and directors general met no environmental NGOs or community groups.
Kamila Kingstone, Senior Policy and Campaign Lead, Defending Democracy Programme at Spotlight on Corruption, said: “Given that the environmental harm caused by data centres is well known, it is extraordinary that the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology failed at the most senior level to speak to environmental NGOs or community groups when developing its AI Growth Zone policy.
“It suggests a solid in-built bias towards the interests of corporations and away from those who will be most impacted by the policy and who might say things it doesn’t want to hear.”
Rachel Millward, Green Party Deputy Leader said: “Labour is diving headfirst into AI without a roadmap, charmed by corporate lobbyists while community and green voices are shut out. We need to slam the brakes on new data centres before they drain our water supplies and wreck the UK’s carbon budget.
“When policy is written by corporations, decisions benefit shareholder profits rather than the public good. It’s a dangerous lack of oversight, proven by a recent FOI showing the government doesn’t even know what current data centres are being used for.”
The Cabinet Office, which has taken over AI policy from the now disbanded Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, has been approached for comment.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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