Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has demanded an apology from Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the billionaire claimed the UK has been “colonised by immigrants.”
During a Sky News interview, Ratcliffe argued that high immigration and welfare costs are crippling the economy, comparing national leadership to his “unpopular” but necessary restructuring of Manchester United.
Ratcliffe claimed the UK population jumped by 12 million since 2020. Official ONS data shows the actual growth was roughly 2.7 million (from 66.7m to 69.4m).
Starmer branded the comments “offensive and wrong.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also condemned the remarks as “disgraceful.”
Groups like the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club stated the rhetoric echoes “far-right narratives” and harms the club’s inclusive values.
Critics highlighted that the Ineos founder moved to tax-free Monaco in 2020, with fan group The 1958 calling it “ill-advised” to lecture the country while avoiding UK taxes.
While Reform UK’s Nigel Farage defended the comments as a reflection of “unprecedented mass immigration,” Downing Street maintains the language only serves to divide the country.
