Manchester United owner says immigration 'costing too much money'

 

Manchester United owner says immigration 'costing too much money'

In a February 11, 2026 interview with Sky News, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe sparked controversy by claiming the UK has been "colonised by immigrants" and that the current levels of migration are "costing too much money".

 

Key Statements and Context

Economic Claims: Ratcliffe argued that the UK economy is suffering because there are "nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in".

Political Commentary: He suggested that Prime Minister Keir Starmer might be "maybe too nice" to make the "difficult" and "unpopular" decisions needed to fix the economy. He also praised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as an "intelligent man".

Factual Discrepancy: During the interview, Ratcliffe claimed the UK population grew from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million today, an increase of 12 million. However, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data indicates the population was already 67 million in 2020, and it hasn't been near 58 million since roughly the year 2000.

Manchester United Context: These remarks come amid existing tension at Old Trafford, where Ratcliffe has overseen mass redundancies and significant ticket price hikes.

 

Reaction

The comments have drawn sharp criticism from several groups:

Supporter Groups: The Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club stated the remarks could have "real-world consequences" and noted that the term "colonised" echoes far-right narratives.

Social & Diversity Concerns: Critics pointed out that the club itself is built on diversity, with a men's squad featuring players of more than a dozen different nationalities.

Political Figures: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy responded by stating the public deserves an immigration system they can trust, while Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie called the billionaire's comments "repulsive".

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder of the chemicals giant INEOS, currently oversees football operations at Manchester United after acquiring a minority stake in early 2024, while the Glazer family remains the majority owner