Ed Davey calls on Government to block Elon Musk’s Tesla energy application

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has written to the Energy Secretary demanding that Elon Musk’s application to provide energy to UK homes is blocked under national security concerns.

The letter comes ahead of today’s deadline for Ofgem to consider comments on the application before it decides whether to grant the license.

The government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, to intervene and ultimately block a license to supply electricity from being granted if it is deemed to pose a risk to the UK’s national security.

Reporting from earlier this year indicated that the Home Office is already monitoring Musk’s social media content as a potential risk to the UK’s safety. The government’s counterextremism unit, the Homeland Security Group, reportedly assessed the threat of the billionaire’s posts as recently as January.

In his letter, Davey cited Musk’s repeated peddling of misinformation and efforts to stir up tensions in the UK. The Lib Dem leader referenced the billionaire’s X post that “civil war” was “inevitable” during the Southport riots – content viewed by nearly 10 million people – and his suggestion on January 6th of this year that the US should overthrow the democratically elected UK government.

Ed Davey warned that Musk’s alleged connections with hostile states and governments – including Russian president Vladimir Putin – could further endanger the UK’s national security if the billionaire achieves his desired foothold in the UK energy sector. Elon Musk has reportedly been in regular contact with Putin since 2022, while evidence suggests he shut off his Starlink satellite service to Ukrainian forces during a crucial counteroffensive.

Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat Leader, said:

“Elon Musk has shown time and time again he’s no friend of the UK – whether it’s claiming that civil war here is inevitable or peddling misinformation to millions.

“I am seriously concerned that allowing Musk to supply energy to British homes would pose a risk to our national security.

“The Energy Secretary should put the national interest first and use his powers to block this license. Failure to do so would suggest the government is more worried about upsetting Elon Musk than standing up for Britain.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

First reported by the Guardian:  https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/22/block-elon-musks-bid-to-supply-uk-home-energy-ed-davey-urges.

Please find a copy of the letter here: https://x.com/EdwardJDavey/status/1958795919240933805