The UK government has made no effort to engage Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), despite the platform being linked to the summer riots and Musk’s prominence in key technological fields.
Sources close to Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, have confirmed that Kyle and Musk have not spoken, nor has there been any attempt to initiate dialogue between the two.
Kyle’s expansive portfolio covers significant areas where Musk has made his mark, including social media, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and space travel. However, despite these overlapping interests, no communication between them has occurred.
Instead, according to sources, Kyle is connected to Musk only by “a degree of separation of one,” as they share multiple mutual contacts. These individuals sometimes relay information about Musk’s more controversial tweets, clarifying what the billionaire “really means.”
This revelation comes on the heels of another high-profile snub: Musk’s exclusion from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ investment summit in London.
The event, designed to attract foreign investment, notably includes invitations to countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, despite ongoing concerns over their human rights records.
Investment Summit Snubs Musk
The decision to bypass Musk for the investment summit has raised eyebrows, especially given that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is behind some of the most innovative advancements in electric vehicles and space exploration.
Critics have questioned why Musk, with his proven track record in leading transformative industries, was not included while controversial Gulf nations were welcomed.
Ms. Reeves, however, appears focused on mending diplomatic relations with the UAE, which were strained after the previous UK government blocked the country’s attempt to buy The Daily Telegraph. The deal’s collapse reportedly left the UAE feeling humiliated, leading them to question the UK’s reliability as an investment partner.
Adding to the intrigue, Musk was notably featured as the guest of honor at a summit on artificial intelligence hosted by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year. Yet, relations between Musk and the current Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have soured.
Over the summer, Musk used his social media platform to harshly criticize Starmer’s handling of the far-right riots, even dubbing the Labour leader “Two Tier Keir,” a jab related to a conspiracy theory about policing. Musk also accused the UK of suppressing free speech, fueling tension between him and the government.
During these riots, Peter Kyle was part of the government’s emergency Cobra committee, which oversaw efforts to manage social media’s role in spreading unrest. Despite this, no direct line of communication between Kyle and Musk has been established.
Musk Still a Popular Figure in Conservative Circles
Despite the friction between Musk and the Labour government, he remains popular among key Conservative figures. Kemi Badenoch, former Business Secretary and a leadership hopeful within the Tory party, has openly praised Musk’s impact on free speech.
In an interview, Badenoch said: “I think Elon Musk has been a fantastic thing for freedom of speech. I will hold my hand up and say, I’m a huge fan of Elon Musk.”
Badenoch highlighted the contrast between X (formerly Twitter) under Musk’s leadership compared to its previous management, which she characterized as dominated by a left-leaning cultural establishment.
She acknowledged that while more controversial content may appear on the platform now, she believes views are no longer being suppressed as they once were.
Despite these endorsements from some quarters of the Conservative party, the UK government’s silence toward Musk persists, leaving questions about the future of communication between two influential figures in the rapidly evolving worlds of tech and politics.
READ ALSO: NPP Youth Condemns Violence, Demands Prosecution of Protesters
