2 weeks ago
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PA Media
Sir Keir Starmer has labelled comments about immigration made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as "offensive and wrong".
Sir Jim, the founder of the INEOS chemicals group, told Sky News on Wednesday that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants" and suggested the prime minister was "too nice" to do "difficult things" to stabilise the country's economy.
In his rebuke on Wednesday evening, Sir Keir added that Britain was "a proud, tolerant and diverse country" and called on Sir Jim to apologise.
A spokesperson for No 10 also called on the businessman to apologise, saying the comments "play into the hands of those who want to divide our country".
Sir Jim told the broadcaster: "You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in."
He added: "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."
Data from the Office for National Statistics estimates that the UK's population in mid-2025 was 69.4 million, compared to 66.7 million in mid-2020.
Sir Jim's comments have also been condemned by Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club and anti-racism educational organisations Show Racism the Red Card and Kick It Out.
