INEOS Grenadiers owner Jim Ratcliffe states UK is being 'colonized by immigrants' and even Britain's prime minister has called for an apology

Jim Ratcliffe is one of Great Britain's most influential figures, as he is the owner of INEOS. The British billionaire is a also an owner of the INEOS Grenadiers and the Manchester United football club; and his recent comments against the UK's immigrant population alongside false information has sparked a wave of backlash, and even an apology demand from British prime minister Keir Starmer.

Ratcliffe acquired the INEOS team back in 2018, after the sponsor took over Team Sky, pro cycling's most successful team of the 2010's and a multiple-time Tour de France winner, with three different riders. The team won the Tour with Egan Bernal in its first year under a new name, but has since seen its influence in the cycling sphere diminish, in the backdrop of the growth from UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

It's budget has remained around the same with a €50 million euros a year investment, and the grand majority comes from INEOS, the petrochemical company owned by Ratcliffe. It is not the first time that the 73-year old has made controversial remarks, however potentially none have reached the heights that his recent comments on an interview with Sky News have stirred up.

“You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonized. It's costing too much money," he said. Ratcliffe incorrectly pointed out that the country's population was that of 58 million back in 2020, and 70 million currently - using that as a great part of the reason to justify his anti-immigration stance. "The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn't it?" he added.

Over the past decade, the topic of immigration has been very divisive in the United Kingdom, with plenty political figures strongly opposing it, and with an ever-growing trend of racist and xenophobic remarks towards minorities in the country. This is the case in many European nations, as the rate of immigration has grown over the past few years.

The comments gain yet another dimension when taking into consideration that Ratcliffe himself does not have his official residence in the UK, but instead in the tax haven of Monaco where he enjoys from significant economic benefits. As of 2021, 68% of Monaco's population, including Ratcliffe, is immigrant.

Because of Ratcliffe's influence and exposure in the British media circle, the comments have gone a long way and have reached none other than prime minister Keir Starmer, who himself quotes Sky News' publication on X, responding to Ratcliffe's words with short yet clear statement:

"Offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologize".

Belgian pundit Benji Naesen, currently a resident in the UK, has also vocalized his criticism of the British anti-immigration stance which often does not correspond to the reality on the ground.

"I'm sorry but it's hard to see people lie about how legal immigration to the United Kingdom works, and say nothing about it. I am a legal immigrant to the UK. In 2023, I had to spent roughly £5,000 for a 2.5 years visa, NHS surcharge, biometric appointment and language tests," he pointed out.

"I will have to spend £4,000 this year, to extend my visa by another 2.5 years, after which, I'll need to pay again for indefinite leave-to-remain. On top of that, as a legal immigrant, I am understandably required to pay taxes, national insurance and can NOT claim benefits".

"This on-going myth that legal immigrants are free-loading on UK taxpayers is complete bullshit. If anything, I'm subsidising them," he concluded, arguing that in many such cases, including his, it is a 'net benefit to your country'.