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ShareSummary: Nigel Farage has thrown his weight behind Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the Manchester United co-owner said Britain has been “colonised by immigrants”. Despite condemnation from Keir Starmer and others, the Reform UK leader said “Jim Ratcliffe is right”, escalating an already heated national debate about migration, language and cultural change.
Farage Says “Jim Ratcliffe Is Right”
According to GB News, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has openly backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial claim that Britain has been “colonised by immigrants”.
The row began after Ratcliffe told Sky News:
“I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it?”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer swiftly condemned the remarks as “offensive and wrong” and demanded an apology.
But Farage took a different line.
“Jim Ratcliffe is right.”
He argued that parts of Britain have undergone visible change over recent decades.
“You look at parts of London, for example, where the road names, the underground signs aren’t just in English, they’re in a foreign language as well.
“One million people living in this country don’t speak any English at all.
“Four million people living in this country barely speak passable English.
“And that’s the point that he was making, that big areas of our towns and cities have been changed into something completely different to what they were.”
That intervention ensures the issue remains firmly at the centre of national politics.
Ratcliffe Apologises For “Choice Of Language”
Facing mounting criticism, Sir Jim issued a clarification.
He apologised for his “choice of language offended some people”, adding: “It is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.”
The wording is notable.
He did not retract the underlying concern about immigration levels. Instead, he expressed regret over phrasing while reaffirming the need for “controlled and well-managed immigration”.
This distinction matters politically.
For critics, the original “colonised” remark crossed a line. For supporters, the apology confirms the debate should focus on policy rather than semantics.
Starmer Caught Between Tone And Numbers
Sir Keir Starmer’s position has been clear.
“Offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”
But here lies the wider tension.
Official data shows net migration reached record highs in recent years. Communities across the country have seen rapid population change. Public services in some areas are under visible strain.
Farage is framing the issue around cultural identity and language. Ratcliffe framed it around economic sustainability. Starmer is framing it around social cohesion.
Those are three very different political messages.
For working families watching from outside Westminster, the argument often feels simpler. Is immigration being managed effectively? Are communities being supported? Are services coping?
The longer those questions remain unsettled, the more explosive the language around them becomes.
This latest exchange shows how immigration remains the defining fault line in British politics. Business leaders, opposition parties and the Prime Minister are now openly clashing over tone, data and direction.
And with Reform UK polling strongly in several areas, Farage’s backing of Ratcliffe signals that this debate is far from over.
