Keir Starmer fires back at Elon Musk’s criticism of UK investment under labour

He made these comments on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, while replying to a call for Tesla to open a gigafactory in Scotland.

Musk, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump, claimed that the current UK government’s actions were causing a decrease in business investments in the country. However, Starmer and the UK government have strongly disagreed with this statement.

Downing Street quickly responded, pointing to the billions of pounds in investment that have flowed into the UK since Starmer became Prime Minister. They emphasized that business investment in the UK is still strong.

A spokesman for Keir Starmer highlighted that, since the UK’s general election, the UK has seen £63 billion in traditional investment. This was largely due to an investment summit held by the Prime Minister in October, which helped secure these investments.

Furthermore, the Labour leader’s office pointed out that, in the third quarter of this year, business investment is estimated to have increased by 4.5% compared to the same time last year. Reports also suggest that many UK businesses are expecting to see their turnover increase next year.

Downing Street made it clear that the government is committed to being “unashamedly pro-growth and pro-business.” They argued that business investment is growing, and the government will continue to support businesses in the UK.

This is not the first time Keir Starmer and Elon Musk have clashed. Earlier, Musk had made a controversial statement on X, suggesting that “civil war” was “inevitable” in Britain. Musk has also criticized Starmer’s leadership, calling him “#twotierkeir” in a post on X. This was in reference to a right-wing conspiracy theory that claims different groups of protesters are treated differently by the police.

Their disagreement seems to be a part of a larger political tension between Musk and Starmer. While Musk has publicly criticized Starmer, he has also been closely linked with figures from the Conservative Party, including former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

Adding to the drama, there have been rumors that Elon Musk is considering making a large donation to Reform UK, a political party in the UK that is seen as a rival to the Labour Party. According to reports from The Sunday Times, Musk could donate as much as $100 million to the party. This would be the largest donation in British electoral history.

The idea of Musk making such a large donation has created a stir in the political world. Some believe that this would be a direct response to Keir Starmer’s leadership, with the donation being seen as a “f*** you” to the Labour leader. There is also speculation that Musk’s support for Reform UK could be influenced by his close ties to Donald Trump, as the two have been known to share similar political views.

When asked about the $100 million donation, Musk denied the claim but did not rule out making a donation of a smaller amount. He was asked by ITV if he was planning to donate £80 million to Reform UK, but he said, “No.” However, he did not completely shut down the idea of donating a different amount.

Musk has been appointed by Trump to lead a new government efficiency commission in the United States, which adds another layer of political connection between the two men. His involvement in UK politics, especially with Reform UK, has raised eyebrows, but Musk continues to keep his intentions unclear.

The back-and-forth between Keir Starmer and Elon Musk is part of a larger conversation about business investment and the future of the UK economy. While Musk’s comments suggest that businesses may be hesitant to invest in the UK under a Labour government, the figures provided by Starmer’s office suggest otherwise.

Business leaders and economists are paying close attention to these developments. The UK government is trying to show that it is still a good place for businesses to invest, despite the criticism from figures like Musk.

On the other hand, the rumors of Musk’s massive donation to Reform UK add a new dimension to this debate. If Musk were to make such a large donation, it could shake up UK politics in a big way. It would also raise questions about the influence of billionaires in shaping political outcomes.