The prime minister has condemned Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s “offensive and mistaken” remarks about immigration.
The Manchester United co-owner, certainly one of Britain’s richest males however a resident of tax-free Monaco, advised Sky Information that Britain had been “colonised” by immigrants who’re draining assets from the state.
“You possibly can’t have an financial system with 9 million folks on advantages and large ranges of immigrants coming in,” he stated.
“I imply, the UK has been colonised. It is costing an excessive amount of cash.
“The UK has been colonised by immigrants, actually, hasn’t it?”
In a publish on X responding to the interview, Sir Keir Starmer stated: “Offensive and mistaken. Britain is a proud, tolerant and various nation. Jim Ratcliffe ought to apologise.”
Sir Jim and Sir Keir at a match in 2024. Pic: Reuters
Sir Jim, the founding father of the INEOS chemical substances group, additionally claimed to Sky’s economics and data editor Ed Conway immigration had pushed the nation’s inhabitants from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million in 2026.
The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics estimates the inhabitants of the UK was 67 million in mid-2020 and 70 million in mid-2024. It was estimated at 58.9 million in 2000.
Sir Jim stated the federal government wanted a frontrunner “ready to be unpopular for a interval” to deal with Britain’s points, suggesting Sir Keir, whereas “a pleasant man”, may not be the fitting man for the highest job.
He stated he had met lately with Nigel Farage, describing him as “clever” with “good intentions”.
The Reform UK chief later backed his remarks about immigration, writing on X: “The nation has undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has modified the character of many areas within the nation.
“Labour might try to ignore that however Reform will not.”
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Talking earlier than Sir Keir’s intervention, Sports activities Secretary Lisa Nandy advised Matt Barbet on Sky’s Politics Hub that immigration had been too excessive, particularly below Boris Johnson’s authorities.
However she stated the federal government was investing in additional alternatives for British kids, and declared: “My dad comes from an immigrant background. I need your viewers to know that I’m actually proud that Britain is a various and tolerant nation that’s strengthened by waves of immigration.”
‘Disgraceful and divisive’
The prime minister’s criticism has been broadly echoed by soccer and anti-racism teams.
The Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Membership accused Sir Jim of risking “legitimising prejudice and deepening division”, saying it was “deeply involved” by his rhetoric.
“The time period ‘colonised’ will not be impartial. It echoes language ceaselessly utilized in far-right narratives that body migrants as invaders and demographic threats,” stated an announcement.
“Such rhetoric has real-world penalties,” it added, and identified United has “gamers, employees and supporters from each background, religion, and ethnicity”.
Ratcliffe’s outburst dangers antagonising these in and out of Man Utd
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has grow to be more and more divisive together with his actions and rhetoric because the face and voice of Manchester United’s management.
The INEOS billionaire’s outburst on immigration dangers additional antagonising these inside and out of doors the membership.
The lads’s squad alone depends on abroad expertise, that includes greater than a dozen completely different nationalities.
After which there’s the employees – many with world heritage – who preserve the membership operating on a day by day or non permanent foundation from the coaching floor to Outdated Trafford.
Sir Jim’s view of overseas folks coming to Britain collides with the beliefs promoted by United and the Premier League.
Soccer’s anti-discrimination physique Kick It Out labelled Sir Jim’s feedback “disgraceful and deeply divisive at a time when soccer does a lot to convey communities collectively”.
Its damning assertion added: “Such a language and management has no place in English soccer, and we imagine most followers will really feel the identical.”
Charity Present Racism the Crimson Card additionally stated it was “deeply involved” by the remarks, and stated public figures ought to use their platform to “problem racism, not inadvertently amplify narratives that undermine neighborhood concord”.
