Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come under heavy criticism following controversial remarks about immigration made during an explosive interview with Sky News. The Manchester United co-owner who also heads INEOS spoke about challenges facing the UK, while also admitting he has become “unpopular” at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky News, Ratcliffe claimed Britain had been “colonised by immigrants,” triggering immediate reaction.
“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.
“The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people.”
However, population data from the Office for National Statistics contradicts that claim, showing the UK population was around 67 million in mid-2020 and estimated at 70 million in 2024. The last time the population figure Ratcliffe referenced aligned closely was around the year 2000.
Ratcliffe also voiced support for Reform leader Nigel Farage, saying: “I think Nigel is an intelligent man, and I think he’s got good intentions. But in a way, you could say exactly the same about Keir Starmer. I think it needs somebody who’s prepared to be unpopular for a period of time to get the big issues sorted out.”
The billionaire businessman who resides in Monaco has already overseen significant cost-cutting measures at Manchester United, including job redundancies, while the club has continued heavy spending in the transfer market.
Addressing his standing among supporters, Ratcliffe said: “I’ve seen quite a bit of this at the football club. If you do difficult things, which we felt that we had to do at Manchester United… we felt like they were the right things to do. But you do become very unpopular for a while.
“Well, I’ve been very unpopular at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view. And I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off.
“But you’ve got all the same issues with the country. If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, if you want to deal with that, then you’re going to have to do some things which are unpopular, and show some courage.”
The comments quickly drew backlash from fans online.
@JibbaJabb replied: “That’ll go down well with the foreign contingent of his #mufc team. What an idiot.”
@MarillionMark wrote: “Fancy a tax evading migrant from Monaco talking absolute nonsense and getting all the facts and figures wrong on this… The man is pure scum!”
@Mugs7 added: “Complaining that too many people are on benefits yet he made 450 people redundant in 2 years at Utd!!”
@NinaMc789 said: “Just as well Sir Grim doesn’t live here then! Awful comments.”
@Peteholly1971 concluded: “Jim’s brain has been colonised by mush.”
