The prime minister has told Sir Jim Ratcliffe to apologise for his “offensive and wrong” comments about immigration.
In a post on X in reaction to the Manchester United co-owner’s comments in a Sky News interview, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”
Sir Jim, who one of the country’s richest people, founder of the INEOS chemicals group and part-owner of Manchester United Football Club, has sparked controversy by telling Sky’s economics and data editor Ed Conway that the UK has been “colonised by immigrants” which is “costing too much”.
“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.”
His comments were echoed by the response to them from Nigel Farage, who said: “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.”
Tap here to read his comments in full
The Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club, however, were among several football linked groups to criticise the businessman.
It accused Sir Jim of risking “legitimising prejudice and deepening division”, saying it was “deeply concerned” by his rhetoric on immigration.
The group of Muslim fans said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned by recent remarks describing the UK as having been ‘colonised’ by immigrants, and by positive references to political figures whose rhetoric on immigration and minority communities has long been divisive.
“The term ‘colonised’ is not neutral. It echoes language frequently used in far-right narratives that frame migrants as invaders and demographic threats. Such rhetoric has real-world consequences. The UK has experienced sustained increases in hate crimes in recent years, including rises in Islamophobia, antisemitism, racially motivated attacks, and hostility toward migrants and people of colour.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Keir Starmer speaking at a football game just before the 2024 general election was called. Pic: Reuters
“Public discourse shapes public behaviour. When influential figures adopt language that mirrors extremist talking points, it risks legitimising prejudice and deepening division.”
The group went on to say that Manchester United has “players, staff and supporters from every background, faith and ethnicity”, and that “the strength of our club, and of our country, lies in that diversity”.
“Debate on immigration policy is legitimate. But it must be conducted responsibly, without language that alienates communities or reinforces narratives associated with intolerance,” they added.
‘This language has no place in English football’
Football’s anti-discrimination body labelled the Manchester United’s co-owner’s comments “disgraceful and deeply divisive at a time when football does so much to bring communities together”, adding: “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.”
Analysis: Ratcliffe’s outburst risks antagonising those inside and out of Man Utd
And anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card also said it was “deeply concerned” by Sir Jim’s comments, saying the language he used “echoes narratives that have historically been used to stigmatise migrant communities, fuel division, and legitimise hostility toward minority groups”.
It continued: “At a time when hate crime is rising and communities are feeling increasingly unsafe, public figures must recognise the weight and consequences of their words.”
The group also noted that football clubs are “full of players from countries all over the globe, who are heroes to true supporters”, and said “club influence should be used to challenge racism, not inadvertently amplify narratives that undermine community harmony”.
Football’s anti-discrimination body Kick It Out says Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are “disgraceful” and “this type of language and leadership has no place in English football”.
‘People deserve an immigration system they can trust’
Sports Secretary Lisa Nandy has also responded to the interview, telling Matt Barbet on Sky’s Politics Hub that while she acknowledges that migration has been too high, she is “proud” of the contribution of immigrants to Britain.
She said: “My dad comes from an immigrant background. I want your viewers to know that I am really proud that Britain is a diverse and tolerant country that is strengthened by waves of immigration.
“But you can’t have a system where we’re taking talent away from other countries because successive governments haven’t been bothered to invest in our own young people, and we are turning that around.”
In response to Sir Jim’s comments that too many people are “opting to take benefits rather than working for a living”, the cabinet minister said he was “right to say that there are too many people who have been written off, not allowed to make the contribution that they could make to this country”.
She also conceded that the government was wrong to try to reform welfare last year before a review into the system was finished.
More broadly, Ms Nandy said both illegal and legal migration were too high under the Conservatives – naming Boris Johnson in particular – and that people want to see those arriving “making a contribution” and “not doing that at the expense” of a government that isn’t investing in young people.
“I think that people deserve an immigration system that they can trust,” she continued, and added she would be “more than happy” to speak to Sir Jim about the work the government is doing.
Comments are ‘outrageous and inflammatory’
But Labour MP Alex Sobel had a far stronger reaction than the cabinet minister, telling Sky News in a statement: “My parents came to this country in the 1970s, contributing hugely as educators, business people, and volunteers in the community.
“Across this country, immigrants have contributed and enriched our culture. These are outrageous and inflammatory remarks from an out of touch multi-millionaire businessman who clearly has no empathy with hard-pressed families.
“To seek to stigmatise immigrants and welfare claimants in this way is shameful.”
