UK Minister speech on AI sovereignty

30 April 2026 - This week, Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Technology Secretary), set out the UK Government’s renewed push to develop sovereign AI capabilities, including plans to reduce reliance on overseas technologies while continuing to work with international partners. Commenting on the announcement, Mike Maddison, CEO of NCC Group, said: 

“The UK Government is not the first to set out a goal to develop AI on home turf - a reflection of broader global competition to secure advantage in what is fast becoming the defining technology of our age.

“The question of how Britain responds to transformative technologies is not new. In the 1960s, Prime Minister Harold Wilson warned that rapid scientific change would reshape everyday life and pushed the UK to invest in its own computing capability, including the creation of institutions such as the National Computing Centre. Today, with AI, we are facing a similar inflection point.

“As the Technology Secretary emphasised - AI sovereignty should not be mistaken for isolationism. It is about reducing overreliance in critical areas while strengthening resilience - backing British AI capabilities where we have clear strengths, and continuing to work closely with international partners to shape how these technologies are deployed. 

“Promoting sovereign AI doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It should be about recognising and deploying the UK’s existing strengths in cyber security, assurance and advanced technologies. By prioritising safety and security alongside innovation, we can avoid a false sense of control and instead build systems that are resilient, trusted and fit for the long term.

“Combining UK AI innovation with strong oversight, resilient architectures and human accountability will be critical to ensuring these technologies deliver both economic value and long-term security.”