Billionaire Man United owner says he has lost confidence in the UK

bbc ^ | 09/18/2026 | Simon Jack / Lucy Hooker,

[BenLurkin]

One of Britain's richest people, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, says he has lost confidence in the UK, describing the country as "on the slide".

The founder of petrochemical giant Ineos, who also owns a large stake in Manchester United, said the UK was in decline due to a combination of high taxes and high immigration.

He told the BBC failing to invest further in North Sea oil and gas amounted to "insanity" and warned gas storage was so low that the UK could "run out of gas" if there was a cold snap this winter.

...

Sir Jim, whose wealth is estimated to be around £15bn, has prompted controversy in the past with his comments on immigration. He was a supporter of Brexit but has been a tax resident in Monaco since 2020.

The businessman's UK exit has been followed by other high-profile billionaires, including steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and most recently hedge-fund boss Chris Rokos.

Sir Jim said the politics of envy was driving people away from the UK.

"In America they applaud people who create wealth," he said. "Unfortunately the UK has got a bit of a green eye towards wealth at the moment."

He said for him to return to the UK "things would have to get better".

...

"You would expect [the government] to exploit our natural resources and we're clearly not doing that. We're shutting it down.

"If you tax everybody to death, they're all going to leave. And that's what's happening."

---

TOPICS: United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: brexit; chrisrokos; ineos; lakshmimittal; manchesterunited; monaco; sirjimratcliffe; unitedkingdom

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Sir Jim is late. The Missus and I lost confidence in the UK a long time back. So much worth saving that the idiot British Lefties have been and continue to trash daily.

[Leaning Right]

> the UK could “run out of gas” if there was a cold snap this winter <

The UK has laws that make it illegal to “cause distress”. Looks to me like this Ratcliffe guy is trying to cause distress by speaking the truth.

I don’t know how it works in the UK. Will his “Sir” title protect him from prosecution, or will he be arrested anyway?

(just kidding here, maybe)

[Bernard]

Didn’t some musicians write a song about UK taxes a long time ago, like in the 1960’S? Guess not much has changed since then.

[PAR35]

Immigration is just a program of the New World Order to punish the British for Brexit.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Beatles. “Mr. Taxman.”

“One for me, nineteen for you...”

95% tax rate. And, in Sweden, I believe, the marginal rate exceeded 100% briefly, and caused some tennis stars to move to the US.

[Fresh Wind]

Let me tell you how it will be
There’s one for you, nineteen for me
‘Cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman

Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don’t take it all
‘Cause I’m the taxman
Yeah, I’m the taxman

[TheThirdRuffian]

Ratcliffe is the genius behind the Ineos Grenadier which is the coolest anti-technology car in the world right now.

[Lockbox]

Forget United and F1, it’s INEOS that is in danger. Stupid governments!

[Texas Fossil]

Simon Jack / Lucy Hooker ??

Talk about author names?

[Bon of Babble]

Very sad to see - Sir Jim is correct: The English are losing their country to foreign invaders that the government supports to displace and replace the heritage population. Criticize them and you will face real prosecution from the government.

"British Police Unit Flags Over 100 Social Media Posts For Arrest Amid Immigration Backlash"

Recently:

"A Dutch 'activist' who climbed Winston Churchill's statue & sprayed it with 'Zionist war criminal,' acquitted by Southwark Court.

And:

"The Bank of England has spent >£85,000 researching how to get Churchill off the £5 note."

[Texas Eagle]

"In America they applaud people who create wealth," he said.

We do??? Ever heard of Bernie Sanders and his The Rich comrades?

[chopperk]

England is now an islamic country; HELLO?

[Blurb2350]

The fact that he’s called “Sir Jim” is proof of Britain’s debasement. It’s done for.

[drwoof]

Correct. The politicians capitulate to muslims in every possible way, and proudly attack the native Christian population. This has been going on for decades now, and the demographics are such that a once productive, prosperous, and progressive nation of white Europeans has been lost.

[Leaning Right]

> England is now an islamic country; HELLO? <

More fascist than Islamic now, in my opinion. But eventually you’ll be right.

But, wait. The British government brings charges against anyone who dares to criticize Islam, even in the slightest. So I guess that makes them Islamic now.

[cpdiii]

“Didn’t some musicians write a song about UK taxes a long time ago, like in the 1960’S? Guess not much has changed since then.”

Taxman by the Beatles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMdcE8jdz70

[Obadiah]

A little slow on the up take, Sir Jim.

[dfwgator]

John Lennon imagined lower taxes, that’s why he moved to the US.

[neverevergiveup]

My understanding is that the King (or Queen) of England cannot be forced to testify under oath to Parliament. That's something that should go. King Charles, for example, should be required to testify under oath about his faith, his support and/or concerns about Islamic takeover of England, and any exposures he may or may not have to coercion from foreign governments/entitites, and domestic entities.

That's just a start, but an important one.

Further, IMHO, all who are aspiring to elected office in the UK, or the USA, or any Western nation should be required to pass a security clearance level assessment. If you have been associated with the Communist party - no office for you. If you have been associated with radical Islamism - no office for you. If you have been associated with the Chinese government, or other government enemy of the UK, USA, or other Western nations - no office for you. Those are sensible criteria - unless you are anti-American, anti-UK, anti-West.

All of that is common sense, and just for starters. Anything less than that is asking for subterfuge.