Energy Secretary Accuses Tesla Billionaire of Inciting Violence as Energy Bills Soar and Union Boss Questions Labour’s Oil Industry Plans
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has launched an extraordinary attack on Elon Musk, branding him “dangerous” and accusing the Tesla billionaire of calling for the overthrow of the British government whilst unleashing an expletive-laden tirade against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
The Cabinet minister’s explosive comments, made at a Labour conference fringe event, come as Musk’s company Tesla seeks an energy supply licence in Britain and household energy bills face a £35 rise from October despite falling global prices.
Mr Miliband raged: “Look, he called for the overthrow of our government. He incited violence on our streets. His platform, X, promotes disinformation. He is a dangerous person, definitely.”
The Energy Secretary added: “Most Britons really don’t like Elon Musk, they don’t like people coming and saying ‘we should overthrow the government’ and whatever other crap he says.
Musk’s Controversial Rally Comments
The controversy stems from Musk’s virtual appearance at the “Unite the Kingdom” anti-immigration rally in London on September 13, where he told over 100,000 protesters via livestream that “violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die.”
Speaking to far-right activist Tommy Robinson at the event, Musk called for “revolutionary government change” and told the crowd: “We must have revolutionary government change… This really requires everyone to sort of marshal the people, to take charge, reform the government, and make sure that you actually have a government that is for the people, by the people.”
The Metropolitan Police reported that 26 officers were injured, four seriously, during clashes at the demonstration, with 25 arrests made as protesters allegedly threw bottles, flares and other projectiles whilst attempting to breach lines separating them from counter-demonstrators.
Tesla’s UK Energy Ambitions
The row comes as Tesla Energy Ventures Limited, based in Manchester, has applied to UK energy regulator Ofgem for a licence to supply electricity to households across England, Wales and Scotland. The application was lodged at the end of last month and signed by Andrew Payne, the company’s director and head of energy for Tesla’s EMEA region.
If approved by Ofgem, which typically takes up to nine months to review such applications, Tesla could launch its retail energy business under the “Tesla Electric” brand as early as mid-2026.
However, the application has already faced significant opposition, with campaign group Best for Britain launching an action that resulted in thousands of comments opposing Tesla’s plan to Ofgem, arguing that Musk has proven through his recent political activity that he is not interested in the general wellbeing of the populace but rather in “pushing his own agenda.”
Musk’s push into UK energy comes as Tesla’s car sales slide broadly across Europe, with UK registrations falling nearly 60% in July compared to the same month last year, whilst Germany saw a drop of more than 55%.
Trump and Climate Change Attack
The Doncaster North MP also brushed off attacks from Donald Trump, who last week used a United Nations speech to denounce wind and solar power and demand fresh drilling for North Sea oil.
Mr Miliband insisted: “We were elected by the British people with a mandate from the British people and we’re going to carry on with our mandate, whatever Trump says. The truth is, most countries are getting on with this.”
He remained defiant about his position in Cabinet despite reports that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had attempted to shift him to housing during last month’s reshuffle, with the Energy Secretary reportedly refusing to budge.
Asked about the row, Mr Miliband replied: “The way I put it is that Keir is extremely happy that I am carrying on doing this job.”
Explosive Attack on Reform UK
Turning his fire on Reform UK, the Energy Secretary accused the party of trying to import a “US-style culture war” into Britain over climate change.
He said: “We have to offer people a diagnosis of what has gone wrong in Britain and how we are going to put it right now. We know what Reform’s diagnosis is, which is they think it’s all the fault of immigration, net zero, diversity, God knows what, a lot of it imported from the US.
In an extraordinary outburst, the Cabinet minister exploded: “What’s the f****** point of politics? The point of politics is to go out and argue for things.”
He claimed climate change denial was a “dead end” for the Conservatives and Reform alike, pointing to his own constituents: “No-one in my seat wants to reopen the coal mines.
The Energy Secretary continued with another expletive-laden comment: “Part of what I hate about Reform is they want to pretend that people in my constituency in Doncaster don’t care about their kids and grandkids and the country they inherit. Of course, they f****** do, right?”
Rising Stakes Against Reform
With Reform UK climbing in the polls and now being described as Britain’s most popular political party, Mr Miliband warned of existential stakes for Labour.
“The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been for this party and for the country, because of who the threat is. We’ve got to beat these people because of who they are, who they represent, the bigger global network that they represent,” he declared.
The comments prompted Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to write to the Prime Minister alleging that Musk attempted to “sow discord and incite violence” on UK streets, urging Starmer to block Tesla from receiving government contracts.
However, Starmer’s spokesman said the government had no plans to sanction Musk over his comments, though he acknowledged that “the last thing that British people want is dangerous and inflammatory language which threatens violence and intimidation on our streets.”
Union Boss Challenges Energy Plans
Mr Miliband’s comments risk widening Labour’s growing rift with the unions. Unite boss Sharon Graham today accused him of having “no plan” to replace jobs in Britain’s oil industry, warning that refinery closures at Grangemouth and Lindsey could cost 30,000 posts by 2030.
She fumed: “We have to make things here,” becoming the latest senior figure to question Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to keep Mr Miliband in post.
Soaring Energy Bills Despite Promises
The row comes amid mounting anger over soaring household energy costs. Families face an average rise of £35 from October, taking the typical bill to £1,755, despite falling global prices. The 2% increase affects households on standard variable tariffs.
Regulator Ofgem has blamed “policy costs” for part of the increase, including an additional £1.42 per month from the expansion of the Warm Home Discount scheme and £1.23 per month from electricity balancing costs.
At the election, Labour pledged to slash bills by £300, but since taking office the annual cap has risen by £187.
Tory energy spokeswoman Claire Coutinho said the increases were “directly linked” to Mr Miliband’s “dash to decarbonise Britain’s electricity supply by 2030.”
What This Means for Britain
The Energy Secretary’s inflammatory language and explicit attacks on both Musk and Reform UK represent a significant escalation in political rhetoric from a Cabinet minister. His use of expletives at a public event marks a departure from typical ministerial conduct and suggests increasing pressure on Labour as energy bills rise and Reform gains in the polls.
With Tesla’s energy licence application pending and household bills climbing despite Labour’s election promises, Mr Miliband faces challenges on multiple fronts. His confrontational approach to critics, combined with union opposition to his oil industry policies, raises questions about his long-term position in Cabinet.
The clash between the Energy Secretary and one of the world’s most influential businessmen, who maintains significant political connections globally, could have implications for UK-US business relations and Britain’s energy market competition.
As winter approaches with higher energy bills and Reform UK gaining momentum, Mr Miliband’s combative stance may prove either a rallying cry for Labour’s base or a liability for a government already facing multiple crises just months into its term.
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