Starmer condemns Ratcliffe immigration remarks and calls for apology

• Sir Keir Starmer has condemned comments on immigration made by Manchester United co owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, describing them as offensive and wrong
• Ratcliffe claimed the United Kingdom had been colonised by immigrants and criticised political leadership during a Sky News interview
• Supporter groups and anti racism organisations have criticised the remarks, warning they risk deepening division and exclusion

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned comments about immigration made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, describing them as offensive and wrong and calling on the billionaire businessman to apologise.

Ratcliffe, the founder of chemical giant Ineos and a minority owner at Old Trafford, made the remarks during an interview with Sky News on the fringes of the European Industry Summit in Antwerp. He claimed the United Kingdom had been colonised by immigrants and suggested the prime minister was too accommodating to take difficult decisions needed to stabilise the economy.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ratcliffe said: “You cannot have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. The UK has been colonised. It is costing too much money.” He later added: “The population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it is 70 million. That is 12 million people.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics contradict that claim. The estimated population of the United Kingdom in mid 2020 was 66.7 million and rose to 69.4 million by mid 2025, an increase of 2.7 million.

Responding to the remarks, Sir Keir said Britain was a proud, tolerant and diverse country, adding that the language used by Ratcliffe risked dividing communities. A Downing Street spokesperson said the comments played into the hands of those seeking to fracture social cohesion.

The BBC has approached Ineos and Manchester United for comment.

The remarks prompted a strong response from supporter organisations and anti racism groups. The Manchester United Supporters Trust said no fan should feel excluded from supporting the club because of race, religion, nationality or background, adding that leadership should make inclusion easier, not harder.

The Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club said the language echoed far-right narratives that frame migrants as invaders and demographic threats. Co-founder and club secretary Asif Mahmud told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that while there were legitimate debates around immigration policy, words such as colonisation inflamed tensions and undermined dialogue.

Anti racism charity Show Racism the Red Card said the cultural influence of football clubs should be used to challenge racism rather than amplify divisive narratives, while Kick It Out described the comments as disgraceful and deeply divisive. The 1958 Group of Manchester United supporters called the remarks ill advised and criticised Ratcliffe for commenting on national issues while living in Monaco.

Ratcliffe has overseen sweeping changes at Manchester United since acquiring a 27.7 percent stake in 2024, including restructuring senior management, making 450 redundancies, and dismissing two managers. During the same interview, he compared political leadership with his stewardship of the club, arguing that progress required a willingness to make unpopular decisions.

He said politicians needed to show courage in tackling issues such as immigration and welfare reform, even if it meant short term unpopularity. He added that similar principles applied at Manchester United, where he believed difficult decisions were beginning to deliver long term improvements.

Ratcliffe also confirmed he had recently met Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, describing him as intelligent and well intentioned, while suggesting that Sir Keir faced similar leadership challenges. In response, Farage said Britain had experienced unprecedented mass immigration that had altered the character of many areas, adding that his party would not ignore the issue.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described Ratcliffe’s comments as totally wrong and out of step with British values, while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said they ran counter to everything for which Manchester traditionally stood.

According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Ratcliffe was the seventh richest person in the United Kingdom in 2025, with an estimated net worth of £17 billion. He moved to Monaco in 2020, where personal income and capital gains taxes are not levied.