In an inflammatory statement on Wednesday, Manchester United part-owner hit out at ‘huge levels of immigrants coming in’ and said too many people are on benefits in the UK
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is facing a furious backlash after a rant in which he claimed the UK has been “colonised by immigrants”.
In an inflammatory statement on Wednesday, Manchester United part-owner hit out at “huge levels of immigrants coming in” and said too many people are on benefits in the UK. The billionaire is ranked the seventh wealthiest person in Britain in the Sunday Times’s rich list, with a £17billion fortune.
His comments were condemned as “offensive” by the PM, “inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory” by Andy Burnham, and “disgraceful” by football’s anti-discrimination body Kick It Out.
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Sir Jim, who is the founder of the INEOS chemicals group, had told Sky News: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. 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.”
The population of the UK at mid-year 2020 was estimated to be 67.1 million and 69.3 million people in 2024. It was last at 58 million in 2000, more than 25 years ago.
Responding, Mr Burnham claimed his comments went against what Manchester stood for. He said: “These comments go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood: a place where people of all races, faiths and none have pulled together over centuries to build our city and our institutions, including Manchester United FC. Calling for curbs on levels of immigration is one thing; portraying those who come here as a hostile invading force is quite another. It is inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory and should be withdrawn.”
Mr Burnham pointed out immigrants included footballers for Manchester City and United, as well as those working on the frontlines of the NHS.
He said: “Footballers who have arrived from all over the world to play in Greater Manchester have enhanced the life of our city-region, as have the many people working in Greater Manchester’s NHS and other essential services and industries. We appreciate their contribution as a city-region famous for the warmth of our welcome. If any criticism is needed, it should be directed towards those who have offered little contribution to our life here and have instead spent years siphoning wealth out of one of our proudest institutions.”
On Wednesday night the PM had slapped down the comments, calling them “offensive” and demanding an apology. In a post on social media, Keir Starmer said: “Offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”
Earlier football’s anti-discrimination body Kick It Out described Sir Jim’s comments as “disgraceful” while declaring that “this type of language and leadership has no place in English football.” They said: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are disgraceful and deeply divisive at a time when football does so much to bring communities together.
“In addition to the inaccurate figures mentioned, it’s worth reminding him that Manchester United has a diverse fan base and plays in a city whose cultural history has been enriched by immigrants. This type of language and leadership has no place in English football, and we believe most fans will feel the same.”