The Prime Minister has requested that Sir Jim Ratcliffe issue an apology for his controversial statement suggesting that the UK has been 'colonised by immigrants.' This remark has drawn significant attention and criticism, prompting inquiries from the BBC directed at both Ineos and Manchester United for their responses.
In an interview with Sky News' economic editor Ed Conway, held during the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, Belgium, Sir Jim expressed his views on the UK's economy, stating, "You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in." Furthermore, he asserted, "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, it is important to note that estimates from the Office for National Statistics indicate that the UK population was approximately 69.4 million in mid-2025, an increase from 66.7 million in mid-2020, which contrasts with Sir Jim's assertions about the population growth.
Sir Jim's comments have sparked outrage among various supporter groups, including the Manchester United Supporters Trust. They took to social media platform X to declare, "No fan should feel excluded from following or supporting the club because of their race, religion, nationality or background. Comments from the club's senior leadership should make inclusion easier, not harder. This is not about politics; it is about ensuring that the custodians of Manchester United act in a way that unites supporters rather than marginalising any part of our fanbase."
Moreover, the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club expressed their deep concern over Sir Jim's choice of words, emphasizing that the term 'colonised' is far from neutral. They pointed out that such language is often utilized in far-right discourse that portrays migrants as invaders and demographic threats. Other organizations, such as Show Racism the Red Card, echoed this sentiment, arguing that football clubs should leverage their cultural influence to combat racism rather than inadvertently perpetuating divisive narratives. Kick It Out also condemned the remarks, labeling them as "disgraceful and deeply divisive."
The 1958 Group, another faction of Manchester United supporters, described Sir Jim’s comments as “very ill-advised,” criticizing him for discussing national issues while living in Monaco to evade taxes. Sir Jim, who is 73 years old, claimed that politicians must be willing to face unpopularity to tackle significant challenges effectively.
Since acquiring a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in 2024, Sir Jim has implemented substantial changes within the club, including laying off 450 employees, reorganizing the senior management team, and dismissing two managers. He acknowledged that while some of his decisions may not have been well-received, they were necessary to resolve pressing issues. "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," he stated.
Addressing broader societal issues, Sir Jim remarked on the challenges facing the UK, saying, "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."
He acknowledged that the role of Prime Minister is challenging and suggested that tough decisions are essential to redirect the country toward a more positive trajectory.
In a conversation with Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, whom Sir Jim described as an "intelligent man" with "good intentions," he opined that someone must be ready to bear temporary unpopularity to address significant national issues.
Following Sir Keir Starmer's condemnation of Sir Jim's remarks, Farage responded on X, stating, "Britain has undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has changed the character of many areas in our country. Labour may try to ignore that but Reform won't."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also criticized Sir Jim's statements, labeling them as "totally wrong" and misaligned with British values, urging him to apologize.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, known for his support of the Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum, was listed as the seventh richest individual in the UK in 2025, with an estimated net worth of around £17 billion. He reportedly relocated to Monaco in 2020, a jurisdiction that does not levy personal income tax or capital gains tax.
Ineos, the company founded by Sir Jim, produces raw materials that are integral to a wide array of products, from toiletries and medicine packaging to mobile phones and furniture. In recent years, Sir Jim has shifted his business focus away from chemicals, including scrapping plans to develop a new vehicle based on the Land Rover Defender, as well as acquiring the luxury motorcycle apparel brand Belstaff.
