Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to cut Elon Musk’s access to government contracts and funding after the billionaire’s firms raked in more than £190m of taxpayer cash since 2016.
The prime minister is facing calls to prevent the Tesla tycoon’s companies benefiting from taxpayer-funded grants, subsidies and contracts in future after his repeated outbursts against the government over grooming gangs and criminal justice.
Despite his repeated attacks on the PM and his top team, Mr Musk’s Tesla has received £191m from the public purse since 2016, with £188.3m coming from Department for Transport grants designed to increase uptake of plug-in electric vehicles, The Independent can reveal.
The remainder of the government’s spend on Tesla was through local authorities such as the Scottish government purchasing Tesla vehicles and leasing charging points.
The government and local authorities have also spent nearly £300,000 on X, formerly Twitter, since 2016, with the platform having been taken over by Mr Musk for £38bn in 2022. Some £60,000 of this was spent by the Cabinet Office on Brexit related comms efforts.
The figures, compiled for The Independent by procurement specialists Tussell, led to furious calls for Sir Keir to cut ties with Mr Musk’s sprawling business empire, denying the billionaire access to future taxpayer grants, subsidies and contracts.
Esta historia es de la edición January 09, 2025 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 09, 2025 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Draper puts health first in his bid to break the top 10
Brit No 1 managing hip problem ahead of Australian Open
Arteta needs a 'can opener' to cure misfiring Gunners
Mikel Arteta is aware that Arsenal need more “explosiveness” in attack, and his staff are looking to rectify this in the January transfer window, although much of this would have been clear to see before Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United.
Hammers seek Potter magic after Lopetegui exit farce
Farewell, Julen Lopetegui. You leave West Ham as you arrived: unwanted by fans, and even by technical director Tim Steidten, it seems.
Spurs subdue Liverpool and dream of Wembley
It’s a bit premature to say this was a night when Tottenham Hotspur’s young team came of age, but this 1-0 victory over Liverpool was an impressive show of maturity when they most needed it. An 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall appropriately settled it, crowning the fine work of fellow teenager Archie Gray.
FTSE 250 and pound slump as UK gilt yields hit a high
London’s stock markets faltered yesterday, with the FTSE 250 slumping to a five-month low and the pound weakening as UK long-term borrowing costs continued to spike.
Bodies of father and son hostages recovered in Gaza
The bodies of two Israeli hostages have been recovered by troops in Gaza, Israel’s defence minister said yesterday.
French minister tells Trump Europe will protect borders
France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot has fiercely defended the European Union in response to US president-elect Donald Trump’s claim that America should take ownership and control of Greenland”.
'I did my best to prevent it'
Mother of 14-year-old stabbing victim Kelyan Bokassa tells Barney Davis her heart skipped’ every time her son went out
Brexiteers left infuriated by PM's Foreign Office choice
The appointment of Theresa May’s former chief negotiator with the European Union as the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office (FCDO) by Sir Keir Starmer is being seen as a statement of intent in his determination to reset relations with the EU.
Corbyn attacks Starmer on private sector's role in NHS
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of betraying” the health service by introducing a much greater role for the private sector, which he warns will hollow out the NHS.
