Jim Ratcliffe sorry his ‘alternative of language offended some individuals’ after saying UK colonised by immigrants – politics stay | Politics
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Ratcliffe says he is sorry his migration remark ‘offended some individuals’, however stresses want for ‘open debate’ on subject
Jim Ratcliffe has issued a press release saying he’s sorry that his remark concerning the UK being “colonised” by migrants “offended some individuals”. However he defends the necessity for an “open debate” on the subject.
He stated:
I’m sorry that my alternative of language has offended some individuals within the UK and Europe and induced concern however you will need to elevate the difficulty of managed and well-managed immigration that helps financial development.
My feedback have been made whereas answering questions on UK coverage on the European business summit in Antwerp, the place I used to be discussing the significance of financial development, jobs, expertise and manufacturing within the UK.
My intention was to emphasize that governments should handle migration alongside funding in expertise, business and jobs in order that long-term prosperity is shared by everybody. It’s vital that we preserve an open debate on the challenges dealing with the UK.
Key occasions
Lengthy waits in A&E rise sharply – as total NHS ready record in England continues to fall
The variety of individuals ready greater than 12 hours in A&E departments for a hospital mattress has risen sharply – although the general NHS ready record continues to drop, PA Media experiences. PA says:
New knowledge for England exhibits that the variety of individuals ready greater than 12 hours for a hospital mattress following a call to confess them stood at 71,517 in January, up sharply from 50,775 in December.
That is the very best quantity since month-to-month data started in August 2010.
In the meantime, the quantity ready at the least 4 hours from the choice to confess to admission stood at 161,141 final month, up from 137,763 in December and the second highest determine on report.
Some 72.5% of sufferers in England are being handled inside 4 hours, towards a March 2026 goal of 78%.
In relation to the total NHS ready record, this has fallen for the second month in a row.
An estimated 7.29 million remedies have been ready to be carried out on the finish of December 2025, relating to six.17 million sufferers.
That is down from 7.31 million remedies on the finish of November, whereas the determine for sufferers has remained at 6.17 million.
The record hit a report excessive in September 2023, with 7.77 million remedies and 6.50 million sufferers.
Some consultants have raised issues about how the drop within the ready record is being achieved, owing to the observe of “record cleansing”.
The Nuffield Belief has argued that the steadiness between referrals for therapy versus therapy delivered has not modified very a lot, that means a giant proportion of ready record reductions have occurred on account of different causes, reminiscent of record cleansing.
In its personal information launch about at the moment’s figures, NHS England says it carried out a report variety of operations and coverings final yr. It says:
The NHS delivered extra elective exercise in 2025 than some other yr in its historical past, serving to minimize the ready record to its lowest stage since February 2023.
Workers delivered a historic excessive of 18.4 million remedies and operations in 2025, up from 18 million in 2024, because the ready record dropped to 7.29 million.
At the moment’s knowledge exhibits there have been 1.43 million remedies delivered in December – a rise of 91,775 on final yr – regardless of 5 days of business motion by resident docs, because of employees sustaining nearly 95% of traditional exercise throughout strikes.
The share of individuals ready over 18 weeks for therapy barely decreased to 61.5%, whereas the share of these ready over 52 weeks dropped to only 1.9% – the bottom since June 2020 – because the Elective Reform Plan continues to drive NHS companies to sort out the longest waits and guarantee extra persons are seen faster.
No 10 says Ratcliffe ‘proper’ to express regret – and sidesteps questions on whether or not apology ought to have gone additional
Jim Ratcliffe’s assertion at the moment (see 12.10pm) doesn’t depend as a full, correct apology. Ratcliffe shouldn’t be apologising for what he stated; he’s saying he’s sorry that some individuals have been offended – implying that whether or not or not his phrases have been offensive is a matter for debate. However at the least he didn’t say “if” individuals have been offended.
On the Downing Road foyer briefing, requested if the Ratcliffe apology ought to have gone additional, the PM’s spokesperson didn’t press this level. He simply stated:
The prime minister requested for an apology, and one’s been issued, and it’s completely proper that Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for that language.
Requested once more if the apology went far sufficient, the spokesperson stated:
It’s for Mr Ratcliffe to talk to his apology … It’s not for me.
Sunder Katwala, who runs British Future, a thinktank coping with immigration, race and identification points, has posted on Bluesky about what he thinks Ratcliffe ought to have stated.
Jim Ratcliffe has issued a bland and generic assertion about financial coverage which doesn’t have interaction in any respect with what he acquired incorrect, or why saying the UK has been colonised has been legitimately criticised. Nor does he appear to retract his language of colonisation in gesturing in direction of a semi-apology
TRY: “I remorse saying that UK has been colonised by immigration, I perceive that was the incorrect language to make use of. I can see how that has detracted from what I see because the substantive difficulty: jobs, development, welfare and well-managed migration for the advantage of all, which I hope to have interaction with higher”
Reeves says Ratcliffe’s remark about UK being ‘colonised’ by migrants ‘disgusting’
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has stated that it was “disgusting” for Jim Ratcliffe to speak concerning the UK being “colonised” by migrants.
On a go to to Crawley, talking shortly earlier than Ratcliffe issued his partial apology (see 12.10pm), Reeves stated:
Funding in Grangemouth is to help jobs in Grangemouth and help important industries in Scotland and within the UK.
However what Jim Ratcliffe stated was unacceptable. It was disgusting, frankly, and he ought to apologise for his remarks, however I’m not going to let what Jim Ratcliffe has stated decide the way forward for jobs in Scotland.
Ratcliffe runs the chemical compounds firm Ineos, which has main ethylene plant in Grangemouth in Scotland. On the finish of final yr the federal government introduced £120m in funding to maintain it working.
No 10 claims it nonetheless has cupboard secretary – however will not say who it’s, and will not touch upon experiences Chris Wormald being sacked
The Downing Road foyer briefing has simply completed however, on the difficulty of the destiny of Chris Wormald (see 10.07am), reporters emerged no wiser than once they went in.
The PM’s spokesperson refused to say what is occurring to Wormald and refused to say whether or not or not he’s nonetheless cupboard secretary.
At one level the spokesperson stated that the Cupboard Workplace was ‘“nonetheless being supervised by the cupboard secretary” – implying that somebody is definitely doing the job. However, when reporters requested who this mysterious particular person was, the spokeperson refused to say.
He repeatedly stated he wouldn’t touch upon the “ongoing hypothesis”.
Requested concerning the claims that Antonia Romeo is being lined as much as change Wormald, the spokesperson stated these have been “speculative experiences”.
FA to have a look at whether or not Ratcliffe broke soccer guidelines by saying UK ‘colonised’ by immigrants
The Soccer Affiliation will have a look at whether or not Jim Ratcliffe introduced the sport into disrepute by means of his claims that the UK has been “colonised” by immigrants, Nick Ames experiences.
Ratcliffe says he is sorry his migration remark ‘offended some individuals’, however stresses want for ‘open debate’ on subject
Jim Ratcliffe has issued a press release saying he’s sorry that his remark concerning the UK being “colonised” by migrants “offended some individuals”. However he defends the necessity for an “open debate” on the subject.
He stated:
I’m sorry that my alternative of language has offended some individuals within the UK and Europe and induced concern however you will need to elevate the difficulty of managed and well-managed immigration that helps financial development.
My feedback have been made whereas answering questions on UK coverage on the European business summit in Antwerp, the place I used to be discussing the significance of financial development, jobs, expertise and manufacturing within the UK.
My intention was to emphasize that governments should handle migration alongside funding in expertise, business and jobs in order that long-term prosperity is shared by everybody. It’s vital that we preserve an open debate on the challenges dealing with the UK.
Keir Starmer’s approval scores are dire. Final week the polling agency Ipsos revealed this chart exhibiting how he compares to different Labour and Tory leaders over the previous 20 years.
However Starmer’s scores are enhancing. YouGov has revealed figures exhibiting that his internet favourability score is up 10 factors since January – though, at -47 – it’s nonetheless very poor.
The fieldwork for the YouGov polling was carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, after Starmer confronted down a risk to his management from his celebration. He might have gotten some credit score for that, however it’s also attainable that he impressed individuals by standing as much as Donald Trump, over Greenland and over the president’s feedback concerning the report of British troops in Afghanistan in late January.
Authorities will publish humble tackle Mandelson paperwork ‘as quickly as we will’, minister tells MPs
Alexandra Topping
Alexandra Topping is a Guardian political correspondent.
Chris Ward, a Cupboard Workplace minister, has advised MPs that the federal government will adjust to final week’s humble tackle requiring the discharge of presidency papers regarding Peter Mandelson’s time as ambassador to the US “as quickly as attainable”.
Responding to an pressing query tabled by the Conservatives, Ward stated:
The federal government will comply absolutely and publish paperwork as quickly as attainable.
As I stated on this home final week, we welcome each the precept and content material of that movement, and we are going to ship on it as quickly as we will.
As such, authorities departments have been instructed to retain any materials which can be related, and work is below method to determine paperwork which fall in scope of the movement.
We’ll do [this] as quickly as attainable when the home returns from recess, in step with the movement handed by this home.
The place the federal government considers paperwork could also be prejudicial to UK nationwide safety or worldwide relations, the Cupboard Workplace will refer this materials to the unbiased intelligence and safety committee.
The Commons begins a half-term recess this afternoon, and can return on Monday week.
Right here is video of Jim Ratcliffe making his remark concerning the UK being “colonised” by immigrants.
Badenoch criticises Starmer over manner Chris Wormald being eliminated as cupboard secretary
Kemi Badenoch has urged Keir Starmer to delay the departure of Sir Chris Wormald, the cupboard secretary, in order that he stays in publish to supervise the discharge of presidency paperwork regarding Peter Mandelson’s time as ambassador to Washington.
Though No 10 has not confirmed Wormald’s departure, it has reportedly already been agreed that he’s leaving and No 10 is working to discover a successor.
In a letter to the Civil Service Fee, Badenoch stated:
It’s arduous to flee the conclusion that the cupboard secretary is solely the most recent particular person to be thrown below a bus by this prime minister.
It’s all the extra regarding to be altering cupboard secretary within the midst of the continuing scandal over the appointment of Lord Mandelson and his conduct in workplace.
Final week MPs voted for a humble tackle movement requiring the federal government to publish probably an enormous mass of knowledge regarding Mandelson’s time as ambassador. Usually the cupboard secretary can be accountable for overseeing a mission like this.
In her letter Badenoch stated:
Altering the cupboard secretary in the course of this scandal – or extra exactly forcing out the incumbent with none clear course of – can be a unprecedented factor to do.
Any particular person appointed within the circumstances, with no full course of to level to and in midst of managing a scandal, may discover it tough to show impartiality.
Lisa Nandy says ministers ought to act extra like they’re in ‘Labour authorities’, keen to ‘rebalance’ energy
One consequence of the Labour management disaster on Sunday/Monday, when the PM’s chief of employees stop and No 10 feared an outbreak of requires Keir Starmer’s resignation, is that there was a widespread recognition in authorities, and within the Labour celebration extra typically, that No 10 must function otherwise. Ed Miliband articulated this effectively on Tuesday morning. Whether or not or not there shall be any vital change stays to be seen, however the nature of the response to what Jim Ratcliffe stated could also be proof that No 10, post-McSweeney, will begin sounding much less constrained. (See 8.49am.)
In that case, Lisa Nandy, the tradition secretary, shall be happy. On Tuesday she gave an interview to Simon Hattenstone, and in it she made it clear that she desires ministers to behave extra like a “Labour authorities”.
Nandy stated:
One factor I actually do assume is we got here into workplace with a lot that’s damaged, together with individuals’s religion in politics to make issues higher. There was a lot to repair.
The problem is that I believe we’ve began to behave like a authorities of nationwide emergency and never a Labour authorities.
We’ve acquired to put on our colors on our sleeves once more, as a result of individuals must know why we, particularly, are the reply to their issues.
Nandy was largely speaking in broad phrases, moderately than advocating for insurance policies that aren’t at the moment a part of the federal government’s programme. However she additionally urged she needed the federal government to be extra radical by way of redistributing energy. She stated:
At occasions in our historical past within the Labour motion we’ve understood that our job isn’t just about redistributing wealth, it’s about who holds energy.
Requested if that was the case now, she replied: “I believe we’ve forgotten it.”
Explaining this in additional element, she stated:
Day by day we have now to rise up and say: how can we rebalance this nation in favour of strange individuals? How can we break up this community of people that’ve had a grip on our programs, establishments and alternatives for too lengthy? We’ve acquired to be ready to assume sufficiently big to alter issues, not simply tinker across the edges.
You possibly can learn the complete interview right here.
Farage defends Ratcliffe, saying it is incorrect to disregard influence of ‘unprecedented mass immigration’
However Nigel Farage, the Reform UK chief, has defended Jim Ratcliffe. In a press release responding to Keir Starmer’s name for Ratcliffe to apologise, Farage stated:
Britain has undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has modified the character of many areas in our nation.
Labour might attempt to ignore that however Reform received’t.
Lib Dems and Greens condemn Ratcliffe – whereas Tories provide solely gentle criticism, saying migration ‘of nice concern to thousands and thousands’
The Liberal Democrats and the Greens have joined these strongly criticising Jim Ratcliffe’s declare that the UK is being “colonised” by migrants.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem chief, posted this reponse on social media:
Completely incorrect. Completely out of step with British values. He ought to apologise now.
And the Inexperienced celebration issued this assertion from its byelection candidate in Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer.
I problem Jim Ratcliffe to hitch me on Stockport Street, meet the hard-working enterprise individuals, struggling residents, and look them within the eye and take heed to them.
I’ve and I do know that they’re sickened by his views and demand his apology.
That is Britain’s seventh-richest man, who moved to tax-free Monaco in 2020 and owns Manchester United punching down on the individuals on this constituency. What disgusting and racist feedback. No marvel Reform chief Nigel Farage has backed him.
However the Conservative celebration has been rather more muted in its criticism. That is what Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, stated when requested about Ratcliffe’s feedback this morning.
I wouldn’t use that time period colonised. I believe it’s pejorative and suggests there’s some type of enormous negativity across the motivations of these those that come right here. And I don’t assume that’s the case throughout the piece.
However he’s referencing one thing that’s of nice concern to thousands and thousands of individuals up and down the nation, that migration has been too excessive for too lengthy.
After we have been in authorities, we have been doing one thing about that on the tail finish of the Conservative authorities. We’ve seen these figures coming down as a consequence of our motion.
However we do have to be very conscious of the influence that migration has, significantly unlawful migration, which the federal government is exhibiting no indicators of having the ability to management.
Authorities supply hits again after ex-FCO everlasting secretary warns towards Antonia Romeo being made cupboard secretary
Sir Simon McDonald, the previous everlasting secretary of the Overseas Workplace, has urged No 10 to do “extra due diligence” because it prepares to switch the cupboard secretary, Chris Wormald, with Antonia Romeo, the frontrunner for the position. Rowena Mason has the story.
Steven Swinford from the Instances says McDonald’s feedback have provoked a livid backlash from individuals inside authorities. He has posted this remark from a authorities supply.
It is a determined try from a senior male official whose time has handed however spent their profession getting Britain into the mess it finds itself in at the moment. A pc says no tradition, that can’t problem the established order.
Antonia is a disrupter. She isn’t settled with the established order. She is without doubt one of the few senior officers that has all the time fought towards the pc says no tradition embedded within the British state
In mild of the disaster we face as a rustic, Antonia is precisely the management the civil service must embrace systemic reform to rewire the state, tackle vested curiosity and ship for the British individuals.
UK financial system grows by solely 0.1% amid falling enterprise funding
The UK financial system expanded by solely 0.1% within the ultimate three months of final yr, in response to official knowledge, as falling enterprise funding and weak client spending led to little momentum going into 2026. Tom Knowles has the story.
And Graeme Wearden has extra response on his enterprise stay weblog.
Soccer ‘shining instance of multiculturalism’ and Ratcliffe’s feedback ‘crass and insensitive’, says GMB
The GMB union has alos criticised Jim Ratcliffe over his feedback about immigration. The union represents employees employed by Ineos, the chemical compounds firm arrange and run by Ratcliffe. Andy Prendergast, the GMB’s nationwide secretary, stated:
Anybody who watches soccer is aware of the attractive sport is a shining instance multiculturalism; individuals from the world over taking part in in concord.
In mild of this, Radcliffe’s crass and insensitive feedback simply underline how out of contact and offensive he really is.
His reign at Man Utd has been marked by mass dismissals of loyal employees and chaos on the pitch.
Frankly, his proper to touch upon UK affairs ought to have ended the second he sloped off to Monaco to keep away from paying his taxes.
‘Inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory’ – Andy Burnham condemns Ratcliffe over UK being ‘colonised’ by migrants declare
Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Larger Manchester, has joined these criticising Jim Ratcliffe over his declare that the UK is being “colonised” by immigrants.
Burnham stated in a press release:
These feedback go towards the whole lot for which Manchester has historically stood: a spot the place individuals of all races, faiths and none have pulled collectively over centuries to construct our metropolis and our establishments, together with Manchester United FC.
Calling for curbs on ranges of immigration is one factor; portraying those that come right here as a hostile invading pressure is kind of one other.
It’s inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory and needs to be withdrawn.
He additionally urged that Ratcliffe has been “siphoning wealth” out of Manchester United, whereas providing “little contribution” to the town.
Minister escalates row with ‘hypocritical’ Ratcliffe over declare UK colonised by immigrants
Good morning. As Joe Coughlan and Rob Davies report, final night time Downing Road stated that the Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe ought to apologise for his feedback that the UK is being “colonised” by immigrants.
Though Ratcliffe’s declare that the UK inhabitants had elevated by 12m over the previous 5 years was shockingly and absurdly inaccurate, it was nonetheless reasonably shocking that Downing Road criticised Ratcliffe so shortly and so explicitly. Previously, when public figures have made anti-immigration feedback, the default authorities response has typically been to say that they’ve some extent and that these issues are comprehensible. It’s too quickly to know whether or not the Ratcliffe rebuttal is proof of a brand new method, however Morgan McSweeney, who was the PM’s chief of employees till Sunday, was one of many figures in Downing Road most nervous about being seen as pro-immigration, and there’s hypothesis that, with him out of the constructing, Starmer is likely to be bolder about articulating his progressive instincts.
What No 10 says is vital as a result of, when the PM speaks out, ministers really feel assured piling in behind. Jake Richards, the justice minister, has picked up the message. He has been doing a broadcast spherical this morning and he seems like he feels licensed to escalate the assault on Ratcliffe. He advised Instances Radio:
[Ratcliffe] he actually doesn’t must apologise for having an opinion. However personally, and I believe, the prime minister thinks, that that language is offensive to so many individuals.
It’s utterly absurd to assume that our nation is being ‘colonised’, which means some type of invasion or taken over. That’s not proper in any respect.
Richards additionally urged Ratcliffe was a hypocrite.
Let’s simply be very clear that Jim Ratcliffe’s feedback yesterday each have been offensive by way of the language used, he acquired his information incorrect, and there’s additionally one thing that I discover fairly offensive, that this man who moved to Monaco to save lots of £4bn in tax is now lecturing us about immigration. There’s one thing that I discover barely hypocritical about that.
It’s arduous to think about Richards letting rip like this if McSweeney have been nonetheless in cost in Downing Road.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: NHS England publishes its month-to-month efficiency figures.
Morning: Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is because of converse to the media on a go to to a coaching centre within the south of England.
Morning: Wes Streeting, the well being secretary, is visiting a Manchester hospital.
11am: Angela Rayner, the previous deputy PM, speaks at a night-time financial system convention in Liverpool. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, the mayors of Larger Manchester and Liverpool metropolis area respectively, are additionally talking.
Morning: David Lammy, the deputy PM and justice secretary, is visiting a youth offending service in south London.
11.30am: Downing Road holds a foyer briefing.
Midday: John Swinney, Scotland’s first minister, takes questions from MSPs.
1.30pm: The Manchester Night Information is internet hosting a Gorton and Denton byelection debate.
And the federal government is publishing its illustration of the individuals invoice, which is able to decrease the voting age to 16.
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