Starmer Urges Ratcliffe to Apologize Over Immigration Remarks

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned comments by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe about immigration. He described them as “offensive and wrong” and urged the billionaire businessman to apologize. The prime minister said that Britain remains “a proud, tolerant and diverse country”. He warned that such language risks will deepen divisions at a sensitive political moment.

Jim, who is the founder of chemicals giant Ineos, has made the remarks during an interview with Sky News at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp. He argued that the UK had been “colonized by immigrants”. He suggested that the prime minister was “too nice” to take the difficult steps required to stabilize the economy. “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in”, he said. “The UK has been colonized. It’s costing too much money”.

However, official figures has challenges his claims about population growth. Data from the Office for National Statistics estimates that the UK population stood at 69.4 million in mid-2025, as compared with 66.7 million in mid-2020.

Political Leaders and Manchester United Fans Condemn Ratcliffe’s Immigration Remarks

In response, a Downing Street spokesperson said that the comments “play into the hands of those who want to divide our country”. Moreover, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the remarks as “totally wrong” and “totally out of step with British values”. He’s also pressing for an apology from Jim. Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage defended the broader argument. He wrote on X that Britain has experienced “unprecedented mass immigration” that has changed many communities.

Fan organizations that are linked to Manchester United reacted swiftly and critically. The Manchester United Supporters Trust stated on X: “No fan should feel excluded from following or supporting the club because of their race, religion, nationality, or background. Comments from the club’s senior leadership should make inclusion easier, not harder”. Similarly, the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club said that it was “deeply concerned”, and argued that the word “colonized” is not neutral. “It echoes language frequently used in far-right narratives that frame migrants as invaders and demographic threats”.

Anti-racism groups also entered the debate. Show Racism the Red Card said that football’s cultural influence “should be used to challenge racism, not inadvertently amplify narratives that undermine community harmony”. Kick It Out described the comments as “disgraceful and deeply divisive.” In addition, the 1958 Group criticized Sir Jim for addressing national issues while living in Monaco, where he moved in 2020. Monaco does not levy personal income or capital gains taxes.

Ratcliffe Defends Manchester United Overhaul Amid Immigration Row

Sir Jim acquired a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in 2024. And, he has since introduced sweeping changes which include 450 redundancies and managerial overhauls. He compared that restructuring to governing a country and argued that leaders must sometimes accept short-term unpopularity. “If you do difficult things… you do become very unpopular for a while”, he said. Nevertheless, he insisted that decisive action remains necessary to address immigration and welfare dependency.

According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Sir Jim ranks as the seventh wealthiest person in the UK in 2025, with an estimated fortune of $23.1bn. Although his business empire began in chemicals, but, Ineos now spans consumer and automotive ventures. Yet, as political leaders and supporters weigh his remarks, the controversy underscores how closely business influence, football culture, and national debate now intersect.

Web Resources on Keir Starmer and Jim Ratcliffe Clash

1. NYTimes.com: Keir Starmer condemns Manchester United’s Jim Ratcliffe for comments on immigrants
2. TheGuardian.com: Starmer tells Jim Ratcliffe to apologise
3. SkyNews.com: Starmer calls for apology from Man Utd co-owner
4. TheIndependent.co.uk: Starmer calls for apology Ratcliffe