February 13 – Sir Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for remarks on immigration that have ignited a political and sporting storm, placing further scrutiny on the billionaire co-owner of Manchester United at a delicate moment for both his football project and his sprawling chemicals empire.
In an interview with Sky News, Ratcliffe claimed the UK had been “colonised by immigrants” and questioned whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer was prepared to take the “difficult decisions” needed to steady the economy.
Starmer – who historically has not been Ratcliffe’s biggest fan – responded swiftly, branding the comments “offensive and wrong” and describing Britain as a “proud, tolerant and diverse country”.
Downing Street called on Ratcliffe to apologise; by Thursday, he had done so, saying he was sorry that his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe” while insisting on the importance of “controlled and well-managed immigration” and open debate.
His remarks have sparked an investigation by the FA into whether they bring the game into disrepute.
The row has drawn in senior political figures across the spectrum. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey condemned the language, while Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and former prime minister Liz Truss unsurprisingly voiced support for Ratcliffe’s broader argument.
Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out described the comments as “disgraceful and deeply divisive” – a significant intervention given Ratcliffe’s high-profile role at Old Trafford.
The backlash comes at an awkward time for Ratcliffe. Analysis from the Guardian points towards his Ineos group, the petrochemicals conglomerate that underpins his wealth – estimated at around £17 billion – has become increasingly reliant on government support schemes as Europe’s heavy industry grapples with high energy costs and carbon pricing.
Over the past couple of years, Ineos businesses have secured grants and loan guarantees amounting to roughly €800 million across the UK and EU, including support for the Grangemouth complex in Scotland and backing for major projects on the continent.
That reliance on public backing has sharpened criticism of Ratcliffe’s intervention into the immigration debate, not least because he relocated his tax residency to Monaco in 2020. The move, estimated by some to have cost the UK Treasury hundreds of millions in foregone tax receipts, has been cited by critics who see a contradiction between his warnings about the fiscal burden on the state and his own tax arrangements.
Financially, Ineos is navigating choppy waters. The group’s two largest holding companies carried combined borrowings of more than £18 billion at the end of last year, while the Guardian points towards ratings agencies which have flagged concerns about leverage levels and refinancing risk amid a ‘prolonged downturn in the chemicals sector’.
Since acquiring a minority stake in United and taking control of sporting operations, Ratcliffe has presented himself as a restorer of ‘standards’ at one of the world’s most storied clubs. His ambition extends to infrastructure too, with plans floated for a transformative stadium project that could require substantial public-sector partnership.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1770998172labto1770998172ofdlr1770998172owedi1770998172sni@g1770998172niwe.1770998172yrrah1770998172
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