Monaco resident Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sparked political controversy in the United Kingdom after describing the country as having been “colonised by immigrants” during a televised interview, prompting a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Sir Jim, founder of global chemicals group Ineos and co-owner of Manchester United, made the comments while speaking to Sky News on the sidelines of the European Industry Summit in Antwerp. Discussing Britain’s economic challenges, he argued that high welfare dependency and immigration levels were placing strain on the country.
“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? It’s costing too much money.”
He also suggested that the Prime Minister was “too nice” to take the difficult decisions required to stabilise the economy.
Downing Street responded swiftly. Starmer described the remarks as “offensive and wrong,” reiterating that Britain is “a proud, tolerant and diverse country.” A spokesperson for the Prime Minister added that such language “plays into the hands of those who want to divide our country.”
Ratcliffe cited figures during the interview claiming the UK population had risen from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million in 2025. Official data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics indicates the population increased from approximately 66.7 million in mid-2020 to an estimated 69.4 million in mid-2025.
The comments also drew criticism from Manchester United supporter organisations. The Manchester United Supporters Trust stated that no fan should feel excluded from supporting the club because of their background and urged senior leadership to act in a way that unites supporters. The Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club said the language used echoed narratives commonly associated with far-right rhetoric and risked inflaming tensions.
Anti-racism organisations, including Show Racism the Red Card and Kick It Out, also condemned the remarks, describing them as divisive and inconsistent with football’s role in promoting inclusion.
The 1958 Group of Manchester United supporters criticised the billionaire for commenting on UK domestic issues while residing in Monaco, referencing his relocation from the UK in recent years.
Sir Jim acquired a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in 2024 and has overseen significant restructuring at the club, including management changes and cost-cutting measures. During the interview, he drew parallels between running the football club and governing a country, arguing that leaders must sometimes accept short-term unpopularity to address long-term structural issues.
Ineos and Manchester United have not issued further public comment beyond the interview.