'Offensive and wrong': PM calls on Man Utd owner to apologise over his claims UK 'colonised by immigrants'

The Prime Minister said the billionaire should apologise for the comments, which he said were "offensive and wrong".

Sir Keir wrote on X: "Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise."

INEOS owner Ratcliffe hit out at the number of people on benefits in Britain in an interview released on Wednesday.

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He warned that the UK is facing an economic and political crisis, and questioned whether Starmer is the right person to lead the country.

"You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in," he told Sky News.

"I mean, the UK has been colonised. It's costing too much money.

“I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it's 70 million. That's 12 million people."

Ratcliffe's numbers are incorrect; Britain’s population was 67 million in 2020, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The last time 58 million people lived in Britain was the year 2000.

Taking aim at the Prime Minister, he added: "I don't know whether it's just the apparatus that hasn't allowed Keir to do it or, or he's maybe too nice - I mean, Keir is a nice man.

“I like him, but it's a tough job and I think you have to do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track, because at the moment I don't think the economy is in a good state."

When pressed on Nigel Farage’s Downing Street hopes, the INEOS founder said: "I think Nigel is an intelligent man, and, I think he's got good intentions

“But in a way, you could say exactly the same about Keir Starmer. I think it needs somebody who's prepared to be unpopular for a period of time to get the big issues sorted out."

For his part, Nigel Farage, while not specifically backing Ratcliffe's claims, responded to Starmer: "The country has undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has changed the character of many areas in the country.

"Labour may try and ignore that but Reform won't."

Sir Jim went on to compare running the country to running Manchester United, who had their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season.

"I've seen quite a bit of this at the football club,” he said.

“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."

"Well, I've been very unpopular at Manchester United because we've made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view. And I think we're beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that's beginning to pay off.

"But you've got all the same issues with the country. 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."

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham slammed the comments, saying they "go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood".

He called Manchester "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".

Mr Burnham continued: "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.

"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."

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy appeared equally unimpressed by Sir Jim's comments, writing on X: "Manchester is a proud, diverse city, shaped by waves of immigration, that stands tall and rejects division.

"As Tony Wilson would say, this is Manchester. We do things differently here."

Sir Jim's comments have drawn a strong reaction from Kick It Out, who said in a statement: “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.”