"Immigrants Have Colonized Britain": Manchester United Billionaire Owner Sparks Controversy

Remarks made during TV interview...controversy grows

Sir James Ratcliffe, a British chemical tycoon and owner of the prestigious football club Manchester United, has sparked controversy in the United Kingdom over his remarks about immigrants. He argued that an excessive number of immigrants has made the British economy struggle.

In an interview with UK broadcaster Sky on the 11th (local time), Ratcliffe said, "The British economy cannot sustain 9 million welfare recipients and immigrants," adding, "Britain has in effect been colonized by them. It costs too much money."

Ratcliffe James, Sir, co-owner of Manchester United and head of the global chemical company Ineos. Sky capture

He went on to say, "In 2020, the population of the United Kingdom was 58 million. It is now almost 70 million," criticizing that "the population has increased by 12 million." According to data from the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK population surpassed 68 million by the end of 2024 and is currently estimated to be close to 70 million. However, the period when the population was around 58 million was actually the year 2000, not 2020 as Ratcliffe claimed.

His comments have stirred controversy in the country. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on his official X account the following day, "These remarks are offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse nation. Sir James should apologize." In contrast, Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, defended Ratcliffe, saying, "We are suffering from unprecedented mass immigration. The governing party is ignoring this, but Reform UK is not."

Sky also analyzed that Ratcliffe's words and actions could further inflame internal conflict at Manchester United, given that the club, a leading side in England's professional football Premier League, boasts a global fan base. On the same day, the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club issued an official statement protesting that "Ratcliffe's remarks legitimize prejudice."

Ratcliffe is a co-owner of Manchester United and a billionaire with an estimated net worth of 21 billion pounds (about 41 trillion won), according to the Sunday Times, placing him among the top 10 richest people in the UK. Hailing from the northeast of England, he is also a self-made tycoon who built the petrochemical company INEOS with his own hands. INEOS has since grown into one of the world's top five global chemical companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.