Wes Streeting slapped down the prospect of a meeting with Elon Musk over government waste.
The X owner has been appointed by US president-elect Donald Trump to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
Appearing on Sky News this morning to discuss NHS reforms, the Health Secretary was asked if they share similar views on driving government efficiency.
Mr Streeting said: “That was not the comparison I was expecting this morning but there is an issue here about reform of public services.
Pressed on if he would welcome a meeting with Mr Musk to compare notes, the Labour politician added: “I’d be very surprised if I see that meeting in my diary.”
It comes as Mr Musk will lead the new department alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Mr Trump confirmed in a statement that it will not be a government agency.
However the Tesla boss and Mr Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance”.
Mr Streeting’s comments this morning comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously clashed with Mr Musk.
The tech billioanire has criticised the PM’s handling of riots that swept the UK over the summer and dubbed him “two-tier Keir”.
Mr Musk was not invited to Labour’s investment summit last month.