Jim Ratcliffe’s Assertions Disproved: ‘Hypocrite’ Man United Co-Owner Criticized
Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, encounters criticism for stating that immigrants are colonizing the UK.
The Storm Around Jim Ratcliffe
Billionaire entrepreneur and Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe is encountering strong criticism after asserting that immigrants are “colonising” the UK — remarks that detractors argue reflect “far-right narratives.”
The CEO of INEOS, located in Monaco, expressed these views during a Sky News interview on Wednesday, contending that Britain could not support “9 million individuals on benefits and significant numbers of immigrants arriving.”
“Immigrants are genuinely colonising the UK, aren’t they?” The UK had a population of 58 million in 2020, and it is now 70 million. “That amounts to 12 million individuals,” Ratcliffe stated.
Nevertheless, those numbers are inaccurate. The UK population was roughly 67 million in 2020, as reported by the Office for National Statistics. It was nearly 58 million around the year 2000.
‘Offensive and Wrong’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the comments as “offensive and wrong” and called on Ratcliffe to “apologise right away”.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham labeled the remarks as “incorrect, offensive, provocative” and stated they contradicted the city’s principles.
“Advocating for restrictions on immigration is one thing; depicting those who arrive here as a threatening invading force is entirely different,” Burnham stated. “It is erroneous, disrespectful, provocative, and ought to be retracted.”
Accusations of Hypocrisy
Ratcliffe, the seventh wealthiest individual in Britain, relocated to Monaco in 2020, a choice frequently noted to have decreased his tax responsibilities. Justice Minister Jake Richards called him a hypocrite.
“Richards stated it is insulting that this individual, who relocated to Monaco to avoid £4bn in taxes, is now teaching us about immigration, further asserting that referring to Britain as ‘colonised’ suggests ‘some form of invasion’ and is ‘utterly ridiculous’.”
Fans of Manchester United expressed their frustration as well. The supporters’ group The 1958 labeled Ratcliffe “a complete embarrassment” and denounced him for discussing national matters “while residing in Monaco to evade taxes.”
The dispute demonstrates no indication of diminishing.
