Sir Keir Starmer slams Sir Jim Ratcliffe over controversial immigration remarks

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has launched a sharp rebuke against Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the billionaire’s contentious comments on immigration sparked widespread backlash across the political spectrum.

Ratcliffe, who has been residing in Monaco since 2020, drew criticism following an interview with Sky News in which he claimed the United Kingdom had been “colonised by immigrants.” His remarks quickly ignited a national debate, prompting an immediate and forceful response from Downing Street.

Ratcliffe’s remarks trigger political storm

During the interview with Sky News economics editor Ed Conway, Ratcliffe did not hold back. He argued: “You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonised. It's costing too much money.”

He doubled down, stating: “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.”

However, data from the Office for National Statistics appears to contradict Jim Ratcliffe’s timeline. The ONS states that the UK’s population was 58 million in 2000, not 2020. The population increased from 67 million in 2020 to an estimated 70 million in 2024.

Keir Starmer’s swift and firm response

Prime Minister Starmer wasted little time in responding, branding the comments “offensive and wrong.” He went further, stating: “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”

Ratcliffe also directed criticism at Starmer during the interview, describing him as “too nice” and suggesting the country required leadership willing to make unpopular decisions. He praised Reform leader Nigel Farage as “an intelligent man” with “good intentions.”

Farage later responded to Keir Starmer’s condemnation, saying: “Britain has undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has changed the character of many areas in our country. Labour may try to ignore that but Reform won’t.”

Wider implications

The controversy arrives at a politically sensitive time, with immigration remaining a deeply polarizing issue. Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27 percent stake in Manchester United in 2024, has already faced scrutiny over decisions at the club, including major restructuring and managerial changes.

As political tensions intensify, Starmer’s strong stance underscores Labour’s position on diversity and national identity, while Ratcliffe’s comments continue to reverberate beyond the football world and into the heart of Britain’s immigration debate.