Keir Starmer demands apology from Sir Jim Ratcliffe after saying UK has been ‘colonised’ by immigrants

The Man United co-owner spoke to Sky News.

Sir Jim, founder of the INEOS chemicals group and part-owner of Manchester United Football Club, stated that Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges.

"You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in," he stated. "I mean, the UK has been colonised. It's costing too much money.

"The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn't it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it's 70 million. That's 12 million people."

In mid-2020, the population of the UK was 67 million and 70 million in mid-2024, as per The Office of National Statistics.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe then stated that prime minister Keir Starmer may not be the correct man for the role: "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."

Starmer has since responded to the news, demanding that Ratcliffe makes an immediate apology.

Posting to social media, Starmer said: "Offensive and wrong.

"Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise."

A Downing Street spokesperson added: "Jim Ratcliffe should immediately apologise.

"His offensive remarks are wrong and play into the hands of those who want to divide our country."

Ratcliffe said he had also spoken to Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, speaking of him: "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."