Dame Emily Thornberry has today warned the UK must “look long and hard” before allowing Elon Musk to ramp up investment in the country.
Speaking at a climate-focused session during Labour’s annual conference, Ms Thornberry, now Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, questioned the Tesla CEO’s motives and raised concerns over his global business practices.
“I would be concerned about Musk and what his motivations are for the country,” she said. “We should have a long hard look at this, before allowing him to invest in the UK.”
Ms Thornberry also pointed to China’s stance on the electric vehicle giant, adding: “It’s interesting that the Chinese won’t allow Tesla near Chinese government buildings,” implying that serious questions remain over data and trust with Mr Musk’s businesses.
Ms Thornberry’s warning comes as Tesla has applied for an energy supply license in the UK, a decision that will be handled and made by energy regulator Ofgem.
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband went further calling the billionaire a “dangerous person.”
Mr Musk has publicly said Tesla is “strongly considering England” for investment, having previously passed on the UK in favour of Berlin.
That decision, he claimed at the time, was due to Brexit making Britain “too risky” for large-scale investment.
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Emily Thornberry spoke at a climate-focused session during Labour’s annual conference
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Ms Thornberry’s remarks will likely fuel growing calls for tighter oversight of foreign tech and industrial investment.
China’s refusal to allow Tesla near sensitive sites is widely understood to stem from fears over vehicle-based surveillance, as Tesla cars are equipped with high-powered sensors and cameras.
The UK, Ms Thornberry implied, should be no less cautious in allowing Mr Musk’s businesses to invest in vital national infrastructure such as energy.
Tesla has already received more than £191million in government grants since 2016 mainly via the Department of Transport, with ministers have expressed openness to further investment.
Elon Musk has publicly said Tesla is “strongly considering England” for investment, having previously passed on the UK in favour of Berlin
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But Ms Thornberry’s intervention makes clear that not all high-profile politicians are convinced.
As the race to attract investment into the UK intensifies, Ms Thornberry’s message was clear: the UK should be cautious and ask the difficult questions before accepting any money from businessman such as Elon Musk.
GB News has contacted Tesla and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for comment.