Scores of UK Parliamentarians Call for Stricter Regulation of Powerful AI Systems Amid Security Concerns
By Robert Booth, UK Technology Editor – 8 December 2025
More than 100 UK parliamentarians from across parties have united to demand urgent and binding regulations on the development and deployment of the most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Their call comes amid growing worries that the government is lagging behind the fast-paced evolution of AI technology, influenced heavily by lobbying from major tech companies.
The cross-party group includes prominent figures such as a former AI minister and a former defence secretary, as well as elected members from the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish devolved legislatures. They assert that without robust oversight, the emergence of superintelligent AI could pose serious risks to national and global security.
Coordinated Campaign for AI Regulation
The campaign is spearheaded by Control AI, a nonprofit organisation backed by notable tech leaders, including Jaan Tallinn, the co-founder of Skype. Control AI urges UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to adopt a stance independent of the current US government, which, under Donald Trump’s administration, has opposed stringent AI regulation. The group highlights warnings from AI pioneers such as Yoshua Bengio, who recently described AI as “less regulated than a sandwich,” underscoring the technology’s current lack of oversight.
Labour peer and former defence secretary Des Browne described superintelligent AI as potentially “the most perilous technological development since we gained the ability to wage nuclear war.” He emphasised that only coordinated international efforts can prevent a reckless AI arms race, which could threaten humanity’s future.
Similarly, Conservative peer and former environment minister Zac Goldsmith called out governments for trailing behind major AI companies. He warned that key AI figures are already sounding alarms on the risks, yet little regulatory action has been taken. Goldsmith advocated for the UK to reclaim global leadership in AI security by promoting an international agreement to halt superintelligence development until its risks and containment measures are fully understood.
UK’s AI Safety Efforts and Current Challenges
The UK hosted a significant AI safety summit at Bletchley Park in 2023, an event that recognized the potential for severe harm—both accidental and intentional—stemming from advanced AI systems. The summit led to the establishment of the AI Safety Institute (now the AI Security Institute), which has gained international recognition as a leading AI oversight entity.
However, critics argue the government has not sufficiently emphasized the summit’s calls for international cooperation to curb AI risks. The government’s response highlights existing regulations and pledges readiness to address AI challenges, but campaigners say this approach is inadequate given the pace and scale of AI advancements.
Voices from Politics and Religion
The campaign enjoys support from diverse quarters. The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, advocates for an independent AI watchdog tasked with scrutinising public sector AI applications and enforcing minimum safety standards before new AI models are released. He cautioned that current government policy appears to lack the precautionary approach needed to manage mental health risks, environmental impacts, and the broader question of AI’s alignment with human values.
Jonathan Berry, the UK’s first AI minister under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, acknowledged that binding regulation is needed for models representing existential threats. He proposed establishing global rules with checkpoints requiring developers to demonstrate comprehensive safety features such as off-switches and retraining capabilities. Berry highlighted emerging dangers such as AI chatbots involved in encouraging suicides and users attributing them with undue authority.
Urgency Amid AI’s Rapid Development
Andrea Miotti, CEO of Control AI, criticised what he described as a “timid approach” to regulation. He stressed that substantial lobbying from AI companies in both the UK and US is aimed at delaying regulation under the pretext that it would stifle innovation, despite these companies themselves acknowledging AI’s existential risks.
“The speed of AI advancement means mandatory safety standards could be necessary within the next year or two,” Miotti said, underscoring the pressing need for government action.
The Road Ahead
Labour’s manifesto in July 2024 included plans to legislate controls for developers of the most powerful AI models, but no formal bill has yet been introduced. Meanwhile, US governmental pressure reportedly influences the UK’s cautious stance to avoid impeding commercial AI innovation, much of which is driven by US-based firms.
With AI technology continuing to accelerate rapidly, and with voices from across the political and ethical spectrum calling for stringent safeguards, the UK faces critical decisions on how to balance innovation with security and ethical responsibility. The parliamentarians’ campaign adds momentum to a global discussion on the governance of technologies that could redefine the future of humanity.
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