“I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”

He incorrectly claimed the population of the UK had risen by 12 million to 70 million people in the last five years. The Office for National Statistics estimates it has actually risen from 66.7 million to 69.4 million, an increase of less than three million.

A Downing Street spokesperson reported it was “absolutely right” that Sir Jim had apologised for his language.

Following the billionaire’s comments to the broadcaster, the prime minister’s spokesman reported Sir Keir thought they were “offensive and wrong” and it is “absolutely right” he apologised.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy reported “a lot of people find that language offensive”.

He added the government has “done a lot to bear down” on small boats and there is “lots we need to do on irregular migration”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage previously pushed back against Sir Keir, saying: “Britain has undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has changed the character of many areas in our country.”

Following the apology, Farage reported he believes the comments were “right”.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham reported Sir Jim’s comments “go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood”.

“Footballers who have arrived from all over the world to play in Greater Manchester have enhanced the life of our city region.”

Criticism of Sir Jim’s remarks also came in from football groups.

Anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out called them “disgraceful and deeply divisive”, while anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card reported it was “deeply concerned”.

“Language of this kind echoes narratives that have historically been used to stigmatise migrant communities, fuel division, and legitimise hostility towards minority groups,” it reported in a statement.

“Football clubs and their leadership hold enormous cultural influence.”

Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s richest individuals, founded one of the world’s largest chemical companies, Ineos.

In 2020, he reportedly moved from the UK to Monaco, which does not collect personal income tax or capital gains taxes.

He acquired a 27.7% stake in Man Utd in 2024, and has since restructured the organisation, making 450 redundancies, overhauling senior management and sacking two managers.

He campaigned for a Leave vote in the 2016 European Union referendum.

Ahead of the 2024 general election, he told Bloomberg he had “had enough” of the Tories, putting his support instead behind Labour.

Starmer tells Sir Jim Ratcliffe to apologise for saying UK ‘colonised by immigrants’
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
Immigration
Jim Ratcliffe

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