Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called on Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to apologise for describing the UK as 'colonised by immigrants' during a Sky News interview. Starmer labelled the comments 'offensive and wrong' while a Downing Street spokesperson said they 'play into the hands of those who want to divide our country'.

Ratcliffe, founder of INEOS chemicals, claimed the UK's population had grown from 58 million to 70 million due to immigration, though Office for National Statistics data shows the figure was 69.4 million in mid-2025. The billionaire suggested the prime minister was 'too nice' to take 'difficult actions' to stabilise the economy, adding that the UK 'can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in'.

His remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club, Show Racism the Red Card, and Kick It Out, with the latter describing them as 'disgraceful and deeply divisive'. The 1958 Group of Manchester United supporters called the comments 'very ill-advised', criticising Ratcliffe for living in Monaco to avoid UK tax while commenting on national issues.