British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe apologised on Thursday for remarks in which he said the United Kingdom had been “colonised by immigrants”, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and senior ministers criticised the language as divisive and inappropriate.
Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of chemicals group INEOS and a minority owner of Manchester United, issued a statement through his company a day after the comments were broadcast in an interview with Sky News. He said he regretted the wording he had used but maintained that immigration policy required open debate. “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth,” Ratcliffe said in the statement.
He added that governments needed to balance migration with investment in skills, industry and employment to ensure long-term prosperity was widely shared. “It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK,” he said.
The apology followed sharp criticism from Starmer and other members of the government after excerpts from the interview were aired on Wednesday. In the broadcast, Ratcliffe argued that high levels of immigration and a large number of people receiving state benefits were weighing on the economy.b“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,” Ratcliffe said. He later added: “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”
Starmer said the remarks were wrong and risked reinforcing narratives that deepen social divisions. A spokesperson for the prime minister said on Thursday it was appropriate that Ratcliffe had apologised. Asked whether expressing regret for causing offence, rather than retracting the comments themselves, was sufficient, the spokesperson said the details of the apology were a matter for Ratcliffe.
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Finance Minister Rachel Reeves described the original comments as “unacceptable” and “disgusting”, joining a broader chorus of criticism from politicians and campaign groups.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, also said before Ratcliffe’s statement that the language used was inflammatory and should be withdrawn.
Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s wealthiest business figures and built INEOS into a multinational chemicals conglomerate. He acquired a near 30% stake in Manchester United earlier this year and has taken on responsibility for football operations at the Premier League club. His business and sporting profile has made his political interventions particularly visible.
The backlash extended to supporters’ groups associated with Manchester United. The club’s Muslim Supporters Club said the term “colonised” was often used by far-right activists to depict migrants as invaders. “Public discourse shapes public behaviour,” the group said in a statement. “When influential figures adopt language that mirrors extremist talking points, it risks legitimising prejudice and deepening division.”
Other critics pointed out that Manchester United’s first-team squad and staff include players and personnel from multiple countries. Some also questioned Ratcliffe’s engagement in British political debate, noting that he relocated his residence to Monaco in 2020, a move that drew scrutiny at the time because of the principality’s lower tax regime.
Immigration has remained one of the most prominent political issues in Britain, consistently ranking among voters’ top concerns in opinion surveys. Net migration reached record levels in recent years before declining, and both major parties have faced pressure to demonstrate control over borders and asylum processes.
The debate has intensified alongside the rise of Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist Reform UK party, which has campaigned heavily on curbing migration. Farage responded to Ratcliffe’s comments by saying Britain had experienced mass immigration that had altered the character of many communities. “Labour may try to ignore that but Reform won’t,” he said.
Public tensions around migration have also surfaced in protests. Last summer, demonstrations took place outside hotels housing asylum seekers. In 2024, riots broke out in several areas following false information circulated online that a teenager who killed three young girls was an Islamist migrant. Authorities later confirmed that claim was untrue.
In his Sky News interview, Ratcliffe cited population figures to illustrate his argument, saying the UK’s population had risen from 58 million to 70 million since 2020. However, data from the Office for National Statistics estimates the population was about 67 million in mid-2020 and 69 million in mid-2024. The UK population stood at roughly 59 million in 2000.
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Sky News reported that Ratcliffe’s figures were incorrect. Ratcliffe and his office did not immediately respond to requests for clarification about the data he referenced.
In his statement on Thursday, Ratcliffe did not address the specific numbers but reiterated his view that immigration must be managed carefully to support economic growth. He said the issue should be discussed alongside policies aimed at boosting domestic skills and employment.
The episode adds to a wider debate within Britain about the tone and substance of public discussion on migration. While ministers have said they want to reduce net migration and reform asylum procedures, they have also condemned language they view as stigmatising.
Government officials have not indicated any further action in response to Ratcliffe’s remarks. The prime minister’s office said the matter had been addressed by his apology.