Updated at 20.25

MANCHESTER UNITED co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has said “the UK has been colonised by immigrants”.

The billionaire, who is founder and chairman of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, Ineos, said politicians needed to “do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track”.

In an interview with Sky News, the Ineos owner 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.” 

Sir Jim added: “If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, if you want to deal with that, then you are going to have to do some things which are unpopular and show some courage.”

In the interview, Sir Jim said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was “maybe too nice”.

He added: “It’s a tough job, and I think you have to do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track.”

The Manchester United co-owner said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was an “intelligent man” with “good intentions”.

He added, “But in a way, you could say exactly the same about Keir when Keir came in.

“I think it needs somebody who’s prepared to be unpopular for a period of time to get the big issues sorted out.”

Sir Jim bought a minority share in Manchester United in late 2023, and his Ineos group has since taken control of football operations.

The billionaire has presided over a variety of contentious changes since becoming part of the ownership, with ticket pricing and availability causing particular anger among United fans.

A protest against the club’s owners — including for the first time towards Sir Jim as well as the Glazers — took place before Manchester United’s recent home game against Fulham. 

Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has admitted some of the decisions he has taken at Manchester United made him “very unpopular”, but says they are now paying off.

The 73-year-old made a string of controversial cuts at Old Trafford since acquiring a stake in the club two years ago.

United have also sacked two managers in that period, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, but under interim boss Michael Carrick, they have won four and drawn one to climb back into the Champions League spots.

Ratcliffe, the founder of the Ineos chemicals group, was speaking to Sky News about politicians having to make unpopular calls to “get the big issues sorted out”.

Referring to United, he said: “I’ve seen quite a bit of this at the football club.

“If you do difficult things, which we felt that we had to do at Manchester United… we felt like they were the right things to do. But you do become very unpopular for a while.

“Well, I’ve been very unpopular at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view.

“And I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off.”

Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

On the pitch, Benjamin Sesko believes his rescue act at West Ham proves United have the stomach for the fight for a Champions League place.

Sesko came on as a 69th-minute substitute at the London Stadium with his side trailing to Tomas Soucek’s goal just after half-time.

But, with 96 minutes on the clock, Bryan Mbeumo swung in a cross and Sesko stuck out a toe to score an amazing volley and snatch a 1-1 draw.

“It was just one of those games that was not going to be that easy, especially since they were stepping back, they were really compact, they were trying to go for the counter-attacks,” the Slovenian striker told MUTV.

“It’s just something that we have to learn from. I think everyone wanted it, everyone was trying to win the game, to score, to fight for each other.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but at least we got a draw, which is important in the end.

“I felt amazing because at least I knew that, once again, I could help the team by trying to secure at least one point.

“It’s a great feeling for me as well, knowing that I can help the team in all kinds of moments. Obviously, without my teammates, I couldn’t do it. So I’m looking forward to more moments like this.”

Sesko added, “We are living for each other. We are doing everything to win the games, to secure the Champions League spot because we believe that we have the team for it.

“We have the quality, and yeah, we’re going to fight towards it. Unfortunately, the game was like it was. We have to now look forward to the next game and try to win it.”