Ratcliffe, founder of chemicals giant INEOS and part-owner of Manchester United, told Sky News that high migration and large numbers of people receiving benefits were harming the economy.
“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,” he said in an interview aired on Wednesday, later adding: “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”
Fan groups and politicians respond
The remarks triggered strong criticism from politicians, campaigners and Manchester United supporter groups. The club’s Muslim Supporters Club said the term “colonised” often appears in far-right rhetoric that portrays migrants as invaders.
“Public discourse shapes public behaviour,” the group said, warning that language echoing extremist talking points could legitimise prejudice and deepen division.
Critics also noted that Manchester United’s first team includes many international players and questioned Ratcliffe’s interventions in British politics after his move to Monaco.
Starmer described Britain as a proud, tolerant and diverse country and said the comments threatened social cohesion, calling on Ratcliffe to apologise immediately. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also labelled the remarks inflammatory and urged him to withdraw them.
Immigration debate intensifies in UK politics
Immigration remains one of the most significant voter concerns in Britain, according to opinion polls, and has contributed to the rise of Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party.
Political rhetoric around migration has hardened in recent years. Protests took place last summer outside hotels housing asylum seekers, while widespread rioting in 2024 followed false online claims that a teenager who killed three young girls was an Islamist migrant.
Sky News reported that Ratcliffe cited incorrect population figures to support his argument. The Office for National Statistics estimates the UK population stood at about 67 million in mid-2020 and 69 million in mid-2024, compared with roughly 59 million in 2000.
Farage responded by saying Britain had experienced mass immigration that changed the character of many areas, adding that Reform UK would not ignore the issue.
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