𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been criticised for suggesting that the UK has been “colonised by immigrants”. The Manchester United co-owner said in an interview with Sky News earlier this week: “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 added: “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?” He used erroneous figures in an effort to back this up. Sir Jim, who is now facing an FA investigation, said: “I mean, the population of the UK was 58million in 2020, now it’s 70million. That’s 12million people.” But the billionaire businessman apologised yesterday after a backlash.

He said he was sorry that his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern”. It was “important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth,” Sir Jim, who lives in Monaco, added.

The last time Britain’s population was close to 58million was in 2000.

In 2020, around 67million people lived in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A Downing Street spokesperson criticised the Ineos CEO, saying his comments “play into the hands of those who want to divide our country”.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, called what Sir Jim said “offensive and wrong”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Mr Ratcliffe was “right”.

He said: “You look at parts of London, for example, where the road names, the underground signs aren’t just in English, they’re in a foreign language as well.”

He added: “One million people living in this country don’t speak any English at all. Four million people living in this country barely speak passable English.”

What do you think? Was Sir Jim right to apologise? If you can’t see the poll below, click here to vote.

“If any criticism is needed, it should be directed towards those who have offered little contribution to our life here and have instead spent years siphoning wealth out of one of our proudest institutions,” the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said.

Manchester United said in a statement: “Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club.

“Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home.

“Since launching All Red All Equal in 2016, we have embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do.

“We remain deeply committed to the principles and spirit of that campaign. They are reflected in our policies but also in our culture and are reinforced by our holding of the Premier League’s Advanced Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard.”