Nigeria TV Info 

Starmer Slams Man United Co‑Owner Ratcliffe Over ‘Immigration’ Comments

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly condemned controversial remarks by Manchester United co‑owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe about immigration, calling them “offensive and wrong” and demanding an apology.

Manchester United co‑owner and billionaire industrialist Sir Jim Ratcliffe sparked widespread backlash after telling Sky News that the UK had been “colonised by immigrants” and suggesting high immigration and welfare dependency were harming the country’s economy.

In an X post responding to the interview, Starmer wrote that the comments were “offensive and wrong,” emphasising that “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country” and urging Ratcliffe to apologise. A Downing Street spokesperson added that the remarks “play into the hands of those who want to divide our country.”

Ratcliffe, founder of chemical giant INEOS and resident of Monaco, argued in the interview that immigration and benefit claims had driven the UK’s population increase and called for “unpopular” policy actions. He also described Starmer as “maybe too nice” for political leadership and spoke favourably of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

His comments have drawn criticism from Labour MPs and anti‑racism groups, who labelled the language inflammatory and inaccurate, noting the contribution of immigrants to British society and to football clubs like Manchester United.