Louise Haigh, the First Secretary and de facto deputy prime minister, will tell the TUC annual congress in Brighton that the UK will “heed the warnings” of experts who flag the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Speaking on Tuesday 15 September 2026, she will strike a balance between acknowledging AI’s transformative potential and insisting that ministers cannot ignore the safety concerns raised by those at the forefront of the technology. Her remarks come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham withdrew from the event following the death of his father, leaving Haigh to address the trade union audience alone.
Haigh Sets Out Balanced AI Vision
Haigh will say: “AI has enormous potential to transform our public services, make our businesses stronger and deliver new scientific breakthroughs.” She will immediately follow that optimism with a note of caution, stating that ministers must “heed the warnings of those who are at the forefront of developing this technology” and “be ready to work with international partners” to protect public safety and national security. The speech is intended to signal a measured approach, rejecting both complacency and alarmism while positioning the UK as a responsible actor in the global AI debate.
Government Officials Stress Safety and International Cooperation
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds echoed the sentiment, telling BBC Breakfast that the UK should “neither be complacent nor should we be hyperbolic” about AI. He highlighted the nation’s standing as a world leader in AI safety, but noted that much of the frontier technology still originates in the United States and China. Reynolds also confirmed that the Commons Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee has summoned the AI Security Institute to give evidence in Parliament on 13 October, a move committee chairman Liam Byrne framed as a response to rising public anxiety. Byrne warned: “Over the last week, public concern about the risk of unfettered, inadequately governed artificial intelligence development has multiplied.”
Transatlantic Contrast: Trump Dismisses Risks
The UK’s cautious stance stands in sharp contrast to the position taken by US President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly dismissed warnings about AI as a “hoax”, despite alarm bells rung by industry leaders such as Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SpaceXAI’s Elon Musk. On his Truth Social platform he wrote: “The only control or “guardrails” that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” His remarks underscore a growing transatlantic divide over how governments should manage the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
Why it Matters
The UK’s decision to publicly commit to heeding expert warnings on AI risk could shape both domestic policy and international cooperation at a time when rival powers are racing ahead with largely unchecked development. By positioning itself as a bridge between innovation and safety, the government may influence forthcoming regulatory frameworks, reassure trade unions and the public, and potentially steer global norms toward a more cautious, collaborative approach to artificial intelligence.
