The Labour Party Annual Conference 2025

SME4Labour and OpenUK fringe: SOVEREIGNTY VERSUS RESILIENCE IN OUR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Speakers:

• Steve Yemm, MP, MP for Mansfield 
• Karl Havard, Chief Commercial Officer, Nscale
• Max Beverton-Palmer, Head of Public Policy, UK, NVIDIA

Chair: Amanda Brock, OpenUK CEO

The SME4Labour and OpenUK fringe session on Sovereignty Versus Resilience in Our Digital Infrastructure explored the delicate balance between national digital autonomy and global collaboration. Chaired by Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, the discussion brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts to examine how the UK can strengthen its digital infrastructure while fostering innovation.

Amanda Brock opened the session by emphasising the UK’s leadership in open technology, noting that over 70% of enterprise software relies on open source, with the UK contributing more lines of code per capita than any country in Europe. She framed sovereignty not as isolation but as the ability to leverage domestic talent and infrastructure while remaining globally connected.

Karl Havard highlighted the strategic role of high-density AI infrastructure, explaining how UK-based data centres, powered by renewable energy, can stimulate regional economic growth and reduce reliance on overseas jurisdictions. He described a model in which foreign investment builds capacity in the UK, while revenue and technological benefits remain domestic, reinforcing sovereignty and resilience.

Max Beverton-Palmer expanded on this “sovereign AI flywheel,” noting that local infrastructure supports world-class research and AI development, exemplified by a Welsh language AI model trained on UK supercomputing resources. This practical example demonstrated how sovereignty enables services tailored to UK citizens while benefiting from global open source collaboration.

Steve Yemm MP emphasised a hybrid approach, advocating for localisation where necessary, particularly in sectors critical to national security and public services, while recognising the importance of international partnerships to maintain competitiveness.

The panel explored key themes including the physical and software aspects of digital infrastructure, the role of open source in enabling innovation, the importance of regional growth through AI data centres, and strategies to maintain control over critical technology while integrating global investment. Audience questions reinforced the discussion, with emphasis on governance, access, and equitable distribution of technological benefits.

In conclusion, the session highlighted that UK sovereignty in digital infrastructure is not about isolation but about creating resilient, locally empowered systems that support innovation, regional growth, and citizen-focused services, while continuing to engage with the global technology ecosystem.

Bios:

Steve Yemm MP

Early life and career. Yemm received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Chemistry from the University of Nottingham. He was the Labour candidate in the 2011 Mansfield mayoral election, and defeated by Mansfield Independent Forum candidate Tony Egginton by a majority of 67 votes on second preference voting.