So the UK is just funding american VCs with taxpayer money now. cool.
284
wasraelxMay 3, 2026
+138
All the while these companies and the individuals tied to them pay no tax in the UK.
138
the_last_0neMay 3, 2026
+48
If it makes you feel any better they probably dont pay much in the US either.
48
dekacube6 days ago
+1
They'd need to become profitable first.
1
Bendy_McBendyThumbMay 3, 2026
+14
So like every American company here then
14
MetalBawxMay 3, 2026
+27
Both the current and previous government have been in bed with Palantir for years and Keir for all he whines about the dangers of "big tech" has no problems attending the parties and dinners they host.
The head of MI6 warns them giving foreign businesses so much access is dangerous and our government turned around and pushed Palantir into MI6's workspace...
Conservative NHS contracts for them were expanded by the current Labour government and in a case of supreme irony our surveillance happy police are currently complaining the the government is observing them too much...
Law after law bring these data harvesters deeper into the UK's administrative and security systems and if you complain the government slanders you.
None of our political parties oppose this save the Greens.'
27
SafariDesperateMay 3, 2026
+7
There was a French invention for people like Starmer, can’t recall the name
7
can_i_has_beerMay 3, 2026
+19
While they brag and call us Europoor.
19
Cheesefactory8669May 3, 2026
I mean its fine if they get a certain % of extra return, if not thats just stupid
0
wasraelxMay 3, 2026
+113
From the article:
‘A joint investigation by the Guardian and Democracy for Sale has established that more than an eighth of the agency’s £400m in research and development funding over the past two years has gone to 14 US tech companies and venture capital groups.
One of these companies, Rain Neuromorphics, is also backed by the OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, and was reported to be near collapse last year. It did not respond to a request for comment; two of its founders appear to have left the company.
Cecilia Rikap, an economics professor at University College London, said: “Disguised as promoting moonshot projects, the government is using taxpayer money to further expand the power of the US tech ecosystem.
“This is not a surprise coming from a government that has agreed to be not only Trump’s, but also big tech’s, footman.”
Also from today: UK Prime Minister’s adviser held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses [UK Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/03/starmer-adviser-varun-chandra-undisclosed-meetings-us-tech-bosses?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other)
113
DalimyrMay 3, 2026
+46
May as well have stopped reading as soon as I hit the subtitle:
>Exclusive: Brainchild of Dominic Cummings
"Brainchild" of a man who lacks a brain. Did he come up with that while he was on that 60-mile round trip to Barnard Castle to "check his vision to ensure it was safe for him to drive back down to London" during a Covid lockdown? (yes, that was *really* the excuse he went with...I'm worried it might not be safe for me to drive, so let me hop in my car and drive 60 miles to check...f****** moron)
46
wasraelxMay 3, 2026
+19
I’d just push back a little bit and say this man’s not stupid at all - he knows exactly what he’s doing, he’s just nasty
We live in a world where the worst vices are rewarded and celebrated, and he fits right into that. I don’t think he’s got any motivations other than power by any means necessary.
The thing with the eye inspection - it’s one of those ‘and I could have gotten away with it too if it weren’t for a few pesky journalists’ scenario. He made that BS excuse because he thought he still lives in a world where can laugh at even the notion of accountability, but instead he just happened to be what marked an end to that era. He sold the country Brexit, so why wouldn’t he be able to sell it this? That was the only stupid thing he ever did. Everything else is not stupid - it’s calculated and deliberately malicious.
19
lolexecsMay 3, 2026
+2
> Brainchild of Dominic Cummings
It works better in reverse
The Child brain of Cumming Dominic
2
CirienoMay 3, 2026
What made me laugh about that excuse is that GSK has a lab there, it's obvious this was about vaccines, yet almost no mentions in the media.
0
Captcha_ImaginationMay 3, 2026
+9
The legacy of Rupert Murdoch continues unabated.
9
cosmic_orcaMay 3, 2026
+10
Reminds me of the time a several hundred thousand pound award meant for British IT entrepreneurs was given to the then Prime Minister's (Boris Johnson) American mistress...
10
Miserables-ChefMay 3, 2026
+14
Bloody foreigners, comin' over 'ere , takin' our money /s
14
wasraelxMay 3, 2026
+8
The billionaire boy club really isn’t sending their best
8
cinyarMay 4, 2026
+1
[ Removed by Listnook ]
1
GoggleDMara9756May 3, 2026
+8
Labour is a f****** joke. You were handed a golden opportunity with the tories complete fumble and you f****** ruined it and doomed the country to reform’s fascism.
8
Ok_Surprise_4090May 3, 2026
+4
That's basically a rounding error to these shithead companies... and it'll have absolutely no benefit for the UK.
4
Commercial-Lab-3127May 3, 2026
+1
Yeah great timing…ffs
1
KenDTreeMay 4, 2026
+1
Was hoping this sort of stuff went when the corrupt tories were booted out. Only to click on the link and see that covid wankstain behind it.
Will never ever ever vote tory. scum.
1
hakhazarMay 3, 2026
Queue Cheetolini losing his shit in 3, 2, ....
0
RojodojoMay 3, 2026
I meeeean... it's Dominic Cummings...
0
prentizMay 3, 2026
-35
The story shows that at least 3/4 of the funding is going to non-US companies, and that in some of the stated cases the grant specifically led to UK investment and jobs. The US has a significant lead in lots of tech areas, so it makes sense to me to use government funding to encourage those companies to invest in the UK.
-35
wasraelxMay 3, 2026
+30
If you have to ‘encourage’ tax-dodging multi-billionaires to ‘invest’ in the 6th largest economy by giving them UK tax payer’s money, you’re doing something wrong
30
prentizMay 3, 2026
-22
Which multi-bullionaires are you talking about? Altman is the only one mentioned in the story, and it only says he invested in the same company. Most of the other companies mentioned are being paid to provide specific services...
-22
wasraelxMay 3, 2026
+7
Pillar VC manages half a billion publicly, but has given out $150-230 mil multiple times a year somehow.
And was incorporated in the UK one day before Aria gave it the contract. These are fake money companies, be so for real. It’s complete reverse wealth distribution
7
poorfririghMay 3, 2026
-35
besides, the UK has to pay for what they did to the 13 colonies
30 Comments