Technology Minister Kendall backed self-driving cars and British AI companies

The UK's Science and Technology Minister Liz Kendall publicly advocated in July 2026 for government support for British AI companies and the legalization of autonomous vehicles—before competitors outpace the country. The statement came on the Sifted podcast against a backdrop of growing tensions within the Labour Party: Andy Burnham's team, considered the likely next leader, has a skeptical view of Kendall's plans, and the minister's position itself has come into question.

What Has Kendall Proposed for British AI?

Speaking on the Sifted podcast, Kendall laid out a straightforward argument: the UK should support its own AI companies before others do—in other words, act proactively rather than in catch-up mode. The minister named autonomous transport as a specific area where Britain risks losing ground.

The argument aligns with a long-standing debate about industrial policy in the AI sector. British technology companies have repeatedly pointed out that they lag behind American and Chinese competitors in terms of government funding volumes and speed of regulatory procedures. Kendall apparently wants to break this inertia.

Why Is Burnham's Team Taking a Different Stance?

Andy Burnham—mayor of Greater Manchester and one of the most likely candidates for Labour leader—takes a more cautious stance on several of Kendall's technology initiatives. The disagreements between the two camps are significant: if Burnham leads the party and comes to power, the priorities of London's AI policy could change dramatically.

The issue of autonomous vehicles adds a separate layer of sensitivity. Every serious incident involving autonomous transport instantly becomes a political issue. For a regional politician answerable to voters for road safety, unconditionally supporting autonomous vehicles means taking on electoral risk. Burnham's team's skepticism likely stems from exactly this concern.

What Lies Behind the Threat to the Minister's Position?

According to reports, Liz Kendall's position is under threat amid possible reshuffles in Labour Party and Cabinet leadership. Context matters: public defense of AI companies and autonomous transport against a backdrop of political instability reads both as a sincere position and as an attempt to shape her own political legacy.

At Westminster, public positioning ahead of a possible resignation is a long-standing practice. Kendall's words are perceived as a policy document: either for a future campaign for party leadership or as a farewell manifesto of the current technology minister.

What This Means

The controversy surrounding Kendall's statements exposes systemic tension in British technology policy: support for the AI sector is declared at the level of rhetoric, but the political will for concrete measures—startup funding, accelerated regulation of autonomous vehicles, prioritization of domestic companies—remains the subject of sharp disagreement. The direction London takes will be determined in part by the balance of power within Labour following possible leadership reshuffles.