Billionaire admits choice of language was offensive while calling for controlled migration.

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologised on Thursday for his choice of language after saying the United Kingdom "has been colonised by immigrants."

The billionaire, founder and chairman of Ineos chemicals, made the comments in a television interview in which he suggested that "huge levels of immigration" had harmed the UK economy.

Following widespread calls for an apology, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ratcliffe, 73, said: "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."

A spokesperson for Starmer welcomed the apology, saying: "The Prime Minister asked for an apology, and one has been issued. It is absolutely right that Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for that language. There should be a serious debate about immigration, but the Prime Minister believes in a Britain built for all."

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves insisted the government would continue to support Ratcliffe's businesses in Britain, including the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland. She said: "What Jim Ratcliffe said was unacceptable. It was disgusting, frankly, and he should apologise for his remarks, but I’m not going to let what Jim Ratcliffe has said determine the future of jobs in Scotland."

During the interview, Ratcliffe had said: "You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK is being colonised. It's costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants."

The comments could lead to a disciplinary review by the Football Association for "bringing the game into disrepute."

CBI News reports that Ratcliffe also cited incorrect population figures, claiming the UK population had grown from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million. Official statistics from the Office for National Statistics show the population was around 67 million in mid-2020 and just under 70 million in mid-2024.

Starmer called the remarks "offensive and wrong," while Kick it Out, a UK-based anti-racism football organisation, described them as "disgraceful and deeply divisive."

Several Manchester United supporters’ groups criticised the comments, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said that while calling for immigration controls was one thing, portraying immigrants "as a hostile invading force is quite another."