Labour MP Dan Tomlinson has mocked Green Party leader Zack Polanski over his proposal to pause the construction of new data centres in England, highlighting the dependency of modern technology and social media on digital infrastructure.
Reacting to reporting on Polanski’s demand for a freeze on new sites, Tomlinson wrote on X:
“I assume that Zack will now stop using social media given it wouldn’t exist without data centres?”
The exchange highlights a growing political dividing line between the Labour government’s push for economic growth and digital infrastructure, and the Green Party’s calls for tighter environmental limits on energy- and water-intensive technology.
Green demands vs government growth push
Polanski called for a temporary moratorium on approving large-scale data centres, arguing that the facilities consume excessive amounts of energy and put pressure on water supplies. He also criticised the designation of data centres as critical national infrastructure, arguing the status prioritises big tech over public services.
The Labour government rejected the proposal, warning that halting data centre construction would harm the UK economy and national security.
A government spokesperson said a pause would “simply send investment and good jobs abroad, while leaving Britain dependent on overseas computing to process sensitive health and defence data,” adding that it would amount to a “disaster for jobs and national security.”
Balancing tech and sustainability
The government stressed that rejecting a blanket ban does not give tech developers a “blank cheque.” Ministers have maintained that future approvals will require operators to use clean power, manage water resources responsibly, and deliver investment to local host communities.
Tomlinson’s intervention underlines Labour’s stance that expanding sovereign digital infrastructure—such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence—is essential for economic growth, modern public services and daily digital communication.
