Extrapolation Sport

Formerly Failsworth’s finest, currently an immigrant in Monaco, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken time to make the behemoth mistake of criticising the UK Government for allowing Britain to be ‘colonised’.

Being loud and wrong doesn’t make you correct, and in his barrage of damaging claims, Ratcliffe said, “The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people.”

The figures are only two decades out of range according to data sourced by the BBC that estimate the UK population passed the 58 million mark in the year 2000. In that time period the population increased by 2.7 million, not the aforementioned 12 million.

Ratcliffe then went on to say to the BBC, “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” he said. “I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.”

Britain’s richest man who himself is in tax exile in Monaco, is suggesting you can’t build an economy with tax paying immigrants on benefits.

The same man who closed down Grangemouth Oil Refinery to make money overseas. Costing 400 people of their job in the process.

Or alternatively, in his ownership of Manchester United he has overseen the reduction of 430 jobs, approximately 39% of the clubs total workforce to cut costs. Meanwhile reducing benefits and bonuses given to the remaining staff at the club.

The countries richest and most successful man has also hiked prices of the base tickets from £40 when he took over, too a mid-season change to £66 in order to raise more money. It has also been announced that these prices could reach as high as £97 in what was described as a “kick in the teeth” for those who witnessed their club finish fifteenth in the Premier League last season.

For an influential figure that has so outrageously claimed he cares for the British economy, he is doing his best at removing the spending power and income for so many of his employees.

It is worth noting that Sir Jim Ratcliffe paid £0 taxes of his £17bn fortune. According the the UK Parliament of Economic affairs, ‘Immigrants paid in 10% more in taxes than they received in public services and benefits, compared to only a 5% ‘surplus’ for the UK-born population.’

Today we have seen statements from The Mayor of Manchester, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves calling Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s claims “insulting” and “digusting” and demanding a public apology.

You would hope that more statements were to come, with many of Ratcliffe’s high profile employee’s, footballers, drivers and high profile staff being immigrants themselves. Again, not set a good president for INEOS’ ownership model that has so far been a catastrophic failure.

It is clear that he views migrants as assets on the balance sheet as it suits him. Mostly players, Amad Diallo as an example, was illegally trafficked into Italy at a young age – worth £50m on his financial statement.

This afternoon, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has released a statement to apologise for his ‘offensive’ language.

“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.

“My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.

“My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.”

This is becoming an all too familiar trend where Ratcliffe’s statements have ruffled feathers and he is made to apologise shortly after. Questions of his intentions and opinions are well placed and offerings of repeated forgiveness are wearing thin.