Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Tesla boss and close ally of Donald Trump, who is at the centre of rumours he could donate to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, hits out at prime minister
Independent Premium
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Keir Starmer has hit back at Elon Musk’s claim “very few” businesses want to invest in Britain under Labour – pointing to billions of pounds worth of money that have come into the UK since he became prime minister.
No 10 also said the government would continue to take an “unashamedly pro-growth and pro -business approach”.
The tycoon and close ally of Donald Trump claimed on his platform X, formerly Twitter, that the “current administration” was responsible for stopping cash coming into the UK.
He was responding to a call from a Scottish politicians asking Tesla, his car company, to open a gigafactory in the country.
In response, Downing Street said “If you look at what’s happened since the election, you’ve seen £63bn of traditional investment” from an investment summit the PM held in October.
Sir Keir’s official spokesman added: “Business investment in the third quarter this year is estimated to increase 4.5 per cent compared to this time last year. I think you’ve seen reports out today suggesting that vast majority of UK businesses expect their turnover to increase next year, up on last year.”
He added that ”the government is taking a unashamedly pro growth and pro business approach.”
Sir Keir has previously clashed Musk, after the billionaire entrepreneur claimed in a post on X that “civil war” was “inevitable” in Britain.
Musk also hit out at the prime minister, calling him #twotierkeir, using the language of a right-wing conspiracy theory, which claims different types of protesters are treated differently by the police.
Nigel Farage met Musk at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion recently amid rumours the tech billionaire is preparing to donate up to $100m to Reform UK.
The money would be by far the largest donation in British electoral history.
According to The Sunday Times, leading businessmen and Conservative Party officials believe that Musk could hand over the cash as a “f*** you Starmer” payment as part of his feud with the prime minister.
The “first buddy” of Mr Trump even shared a post on X, claiming that Reform UK will win the next general election, captioning his repost with the word “yes”.
Asked by ITV about the reports of the massive donation, Musk denied he was planning to give $100m, but his response did not rule out another amount.
Asked if he was planning to give the upstart party £80m, Musk – who has been appointed by Mr Trump to lead a new government efficiency commission in the US – replied “no”.
Mr Farage has previously described Musk as “very supportive”.
“He thinks that if Reform do well in the UK, we can bring about the same kind of change that he intends to do with Donald Trump in America,” the party leader said.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
