Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe Sparks Outrage with Immigration Comments
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Britain's seventh-richest man and co-owner of Manchester United FC, has ignited a firestorm of controversy by claiming the United Kingdom is being 'colonised by immigrants' during a recent interview with Sky News. The billionaire, who vocally supported Brexit before relocating his tax residency to tax-free Monaco in 2020, made the inflammatory remarks while also criticizing people receiving state benefits.
Controversial Statements on Immigration and Benefits
Speaking at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, Ratcliffe declared: 'You can't afford ... you can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. The UK is being colonised by immigrants, really, isn't it?' He went on to cite population figures, stating: 'I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it's 70 million. That's 12 million people.'
However, official data from the Office for National Statistics contradicts Ratcliffe's claims. The ONS estimates indicate that the UK population was approximately 67 million in 2020, not 58 million, and was last near 58 million around the year 2000.
Hypocrisy Concerns Over State Aid
Ratcliffe's criticism of benefit recipients comes at a particularly sensitive time, as his chemical company Ineos recently received a £120 million government grant to protect 500 jobs. This follows revelations that Ineos and other Ratcliffe-linked chemical firms have received up to £70 million in UK state aid over the past four years.
The billionaire, whose fortune is largely built on Ineos, has a history of political engagement, having:
- Vocally backed Brexit during the referendum campaign
- Lobbied against environmental taxes
- Advocated for fracking expansion in the UK
Political Comparisons and Management Philosophy
During the interview, Ratcliffe compared political leaders, describing Reform Party leader Nigel Farage as an 'intelligent man' with 'good intentions.' He also commented on Labour leader Keir Starmer, saying: '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.'
Ratcliffe drew parallels between running Manchester United and governing the country, referencing his unpopular decisions at the football club including mass lay-offs and managerial changes. 'If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living,' he said, 'the government is going to have to do some things which are unpopular, and show some courage.'
The billionaire's comments have sparked widespread debate about wealth, taxation, and political influence, particularly given his own relocation to Monaco—a move that significantly reduced his UK tax obligations while his businesses continue to benefit from government support.
