The ‘People’s Prime Minister’ Andy Burnham has struck a concerning deal with Ukraine. It will see Ukrainian-developed war-tested AI used to ‘protect’ UK military bases from protestors. It seems like Burnham is going to pick up where Keir Starmer left off – a spiral into anti-democratic authoritarianism.

A government press release published on 24 August claimed:

New partnership set to see the UK and Ukraine develop battle winning technology as Britain secures access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs.

A landmark AI deal between the UK and Ukraine has been signed today as the two countries join forces to develop new military capabilities and the technology of the future.

Secreted lower down in the document, the government has said (author’s bold):

The first of the trial technology is about to be rolled out at a UK defence site to protect bases from protestors and hostile actors trying to gain intelligence.

The press release confirms:

The project, which uses Ukrainian data and UK technology, turns buried fibre-optic cables into a giant AI-enabled sensor. As well as military bases, the technology could be rolled out to protect airports, prisons and even railways and energy plants in the future.

Burnham’s state visit

Burnham has spent several days in Ukraine leading an official state visit. He also talked up giving Ukraine more missiles too:

To underline the strength of this commitment, the Prime Minister is set to announce that the Government has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, as Ukraine and France look to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.

Burnham’s commitment to the war machine is evident. So is that of his cabinet. Defence secretary Wes Streeting gave a speech to arms firm leaders on 23 July, soon after being appointed, which:

promised new arms contracts worth over £11 billion and pledged unstinting support for rearmament in a speech that never deviated from Ministry of Defence approved themes.

The same report from Europe Says stated:

Also today his boss, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, committed to allowing the US to use RAF bases in the UK to bomb Iran.

The new boss, then, same as the old boss.

Burnham’s gimmicky politics and DJ sets might appeal to centrist dads and naive liberals. His branding might appeal to middle-class ‘left’ cosplayers. But the increasingly obvious truth is that whether or not he likes Joy Division, his underlying politics are perfectly in line with establishment consensus. Labour is still for war, still for capital and still for US empire. Let’s at least be frank about it.

Featured image via the Canary

By Joe Glenton

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