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Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 15:31 IST
Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United co-owner, faces backlash for claiming the UK is being colonised by immigrants.
Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe (AP)
Billionaire businessman and Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is facing fierce backlash after claiming the UK was being “colonised" by immigrants — comments critics say echo “far-right narratives".
The Monaco-based INEOS chief executive made the remarks in a Sky News interview on Wednesday, arguing Britain could not sustain “9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in."
“The UK is being colonised by immigrants, really, isn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people," Ratcliffe said.
However, those figures are incorrect. According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK population was approximately 67 million in 2020. It was last close to 58 million around the year 2000.
‘Offensive and Wrong’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the remarks as “offensive and wrong" and urged Ratcliffe to “apologise immediately".
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham described the comments as “inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory" and said they ran counter to the city’s values.
“Calling for curbs on levels of immigration is one thing; portraying those who come here as a hostile invading force is quite another," Burnham said. “It is inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory and should be withdrawn."
Accusations of Hypocrisy
Ratcliffe, Britain’s seventh-richest man, moved to Monaco in 2020, a decision widely reported to have reduced his tax liabilities. Justice minister Jake Richards accused him of hypocrisy.
‘Jim Ratcliffe has moved to Monaco to save £4-billion worth of tax in this country one might question whether he is the patriot we need to comment on this issue’Justice minister Jake Richards spoke to #BBCBreakfast after billionaire Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe… pic.twitter.com/QwFdQhPgOZ
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) February 12, 2026
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is an immigrant himself in Monaco who owns a club whose starting line-up this week contained 8 out of 11 immigrants and is now complaining about immigrants- what a sad little man.— Sam Pilger (@sampilger) February 12, 2026
“It is offensive that this man who moved to Monaco to save £4bn in tax is now lecturing us about immigration," Richards said, adding that describing Britain as being “colonised" implied “some kind of invasion" and was “completely absurd".
Manchester United supporters also voiced anger. The fans’ group The 1958 called Ratcliffe “a total embarrassment" and criticised him for commenting on national issues “while living in Monaco to avoid paying tax."
The controversy shows no sign of fading.
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First Published:
February 12, 2026, 15:31 IST
News sports football Jim Ratcliffe's Claims Debunked: 'Hypocrite' Man United Co-Owner Called Out For 'Colonised' Remark
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