George Osborne, the former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, recently criticized local opposition to the construction of datacentres, labeling those who protest against them as "nimbys" (Not In My Backyard). Speaking at the Big Brue festival in Somerset, Osborne argued that such resistance is actively holding back Britain’s economic and technological development.

Osborne’s comments come as he serves in a dual capacity: he is the head of AI for countries at OpenAI and holds a role focused on facilitating the development of datacentres and related infrastructure. He noted that his past experience in politics, combined with his current professional responsibilities, has highlighted the significant regulatory and social hurdles involved in building large-scale energy and water-intensive facilities in the UK.

While Osborne frames the issue as a matter of national progress, the protests he referenced stem from local concerns regarding the environmental impact of these structures. Datacentres are known for their high consumption of electricity and water, which has sparked pushback from communities concerned about local resource strain and infrastructure capacity. The Guardian reports that these protests are occurring nationwide, though the article does not provide specific details on the protesters' arguments beyond their opposition to the "guzzling" nature of the facilities. Osborne’s remarks suggest a push for streamlined planning processes to accommodate the rapid growth of AI infrastructure, prioritizing national technological competitiveness over local planning objections.