Key Highlights
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of INEOS and Manchester United, claims the UK has been “colonised” by immigrants.
- Ratcliffe warns of profound economic challenges due to high immigration levels.
- The chemicals magnate criticizes Keir Starmer’s ability to address major issues in Britain.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: The UK’s Economy Under Siege?
British business giant Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and founder of INEOS chemicals group, has delivered a stark warning about the state of the nation. In an interview with Sky News, Ratcliffe declared that the UK is “colonised” by immigrants, highlighting what he sees as an unprecedented rise in immigration in recent years.
The Economic Threat
According to Ratcliffe, Britain faces significant economic challenges. He asserts that the influx of immigrants has placed a heavy burden on the state’s resources, particularly those who are reliant on benefits. “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigration coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.”
Ratcliffe further elaborated that the population increase from 58 million to 70 million since 2020 is a clear sign of this shift. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimates that the population was 67 million in mid-2020 and had grown to 70 million by mid-2024.
A Critique of Current Leadership
While Ratcliffe acknowledges the importance of immigration, he questions whether it is being managed effectively. He opined that Prime Minister Keir Starmer might not be suited for the role, suggesting a need for someone who can take “un” steps to address major issues. “I don’t know whether it’s just the apparatus that hasn’t allowed Keir to do it or he’s maybe too nice – I mean, Keir is a nice man,” Ratcliffe stated. “But it’s a tough job and I think you have to do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track.”
A Call for Bold Action
Reflecting on his role at Manchester United, Sir Jim highlighted that making tough decisions can lead to short-term pain but long-term gains. “I’ve been very un at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes,” he said. “But for the better, in my view.” Ratcliffe sees parallels with the broader economic challenges facing Britain: “If you really want to deal with major issues like immigration and people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, then you’re going to have to do some things which are un, and show some courage.”
The chemicals magnate’s warning comes as Europe grapples with its own economic challenges. The ongoing closures across the European chemicals sector indicate unsurvivable conditions, according to Ratcliffe.
