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I deplore Jim Ratcliffe's words. (owner of Man U)

(557 Posts)
Wyllow3 Fri 13-Feb-26 09:42:19

I think Jim Ratcliffe was openly, and shockingly racist, and gave no credit for the value added to our economy over the years by hardworking immigrants

- we simply could not have managed without them, because our birthrate is not congruent with the needs of an aging population as many of us live much longer than we used to.
the NHS, the care profession, and many a person seeking a Polish Plumber (to give a well worn cliche an outing) could hardly exist.

His comments seek to divide us and to encourage racism, and yes, while he funds a footie club from afar haven for the tax dodger. Interviews with some of the fans, themselves sons of immigrants, show just how horrific his comments were - turning fans against fans.

Opal Fri 13-Feb-26 09:45:22

I agree with everything he said.

Galaxy Fri 13-Feb-26 09:46:38

Presumably this will be deleted like the other 2 threads.

Bellasnana Fri 13-Feb-26 09:51:15

Opal me too.

1960srelic Fri 13-Feb-26 09:53:29

I agree with Wyllow. I've seen many health professionals in recent years and almost all are immigrants. I'm very grateful to all of them.

Dorisdodar Fri 13-Feb-26 09:53:44

Just for balance...plenty of immigrants aren't hard working and we simply couldn't manage without the hard working natives either...
I agree with what he said too.

ayse Fri 13-Feb-26 09:58:10

1960srelic

I agree with Wyllow. I've seen many health professionals in recent years and almost all are immigrants. I'm very grateful to all of them.

Me too

Calendargirl Fri 13-Feb-26 09:59:32

I felt he wasn’t meaning immigrants who came after the war, the Windrush generation and others, who we invited and needed to work for the NHS, the transport system, factories and so on.

He was talking about the last few years when it’s all so different.

His choice of words wasn’t the best, I think he realised that afterwards, but many will agree with his sentiments.

I did.

pably15 Fri 13-Feb-26 10:01:28

Yes I agree with him,they are not all hard working.

Grandmabatty Fri 13-Feb-26 10:01:40

It's easy to see where Reform get their followers!
I have no time for anyone who has a multi national football team rabbiting on about 'colonisation' while he himself lives in Monaco to avoid paying tax. Hardly the action of a loyal Brit. In addition, he closed the local refinery where I live, despite appeals to encourage a local buy out. Hes made my son in law as well as hundreds of others redundant. So forgive me if I consider him a grade A shit

Opal Fri 13-Feb-26 10:02:42

Galaxy

Presumably this will be deleted like the other 2 threads.

They've deleted 3 now!

Oreo Fri 13-Feb-26 10:08:53

You can consider him however you like Grandmabatty it’s a free country ( so far.)
I agree with his core message even he exaggerated and got the numbers wrong.
There are far too many not working and on benefits and immigration is too high, even the government knows it and is working on it so they say.
It’s nothing to do with being Reform voters, many Labour and Conservative voters will agree with his message.

Oreo Fri 13-Feb-26 10:10:45

Opal

Galaxy

Presumably this will be deleted like the other 2 threads.

They've deleted 3 now!

😬 not worth bothering to reply then.

Primrose53 Fri 13-Feb-26 10:12:24

I agree with what he said. It was just a few sentences and it seems to me it was just one word that offended SOME people. It wasn’t a foul mouthed rant, but a very brief and quietly spoken opinion.

We all know the NHS is full of people who came here many years ago but they came here LEGALLY and are greatly valued and respected. We have first hand experience of surgeons, nurses, doctors, cleaners etc as my son had major surgery last Oct at Addenbrooke’s and is now having chemo elsewhere.

Jim Ratcliffe paid £110 million in tax here in 2017/2018 before he decided to spend half his time in Monaco. To be honest I would probably do the same just as many other very wealthy Brits have done!

Opal Fri 13-Feb-26 10:12:36

Oreo

Opal

Galaxy

Presumably this will be deleted like the other 2 threads.

They've deleted 3 now!

😬 not worth bothering to reply then.

It's ridiculous Oreo, whatever happened to free speech?

Oreo Fri 13-Feb-26 10:14:42

I haven’t seen anything that warrants taking the thread down, so am mystified .

Casdon Fri 13-Feb-26 10:15:15

We are all immigrants, it’s just that for some of us our families came here longer ago than others.

Opal Fri 13-Feb-26 10:15:33

Primrose53

I agree with what he said. It was just a few sentences and it seems to me it was just one word that offended SOME people. It wasn’t a foul mouthed rant, but a very brief and quietly spoken opinion.

We all know the NHS is full of people who came here many years ago but they came here LEGALLY and are greatly valued and respected. We have first hand experience of surgeons, nurses, doctors, cleaners etc as my son had major surgery last Oct at Addenbrooke’s and is now having chemo elsewhere.

Jim Ratcliffe paid £110 million in tax here in 2017/2018 before he decided to spend half his time in Monaco. To be honest I would probably do the same just as many other very wealthy Brits have done!

Sadly Primrose, a quiet opinion is no longer allowed. I agree wholeheartedly.

Wyllow3 Fri 13-Feb-26 10:17:19

*Just to make this clear, as discussing another thread WILL get this deleted
I reported my own O/P immediately to check it was OK. Please can we stay with the subject from this post on*

This is our chance to speak upon JimRadcliffes words and the fall out.

Opal Fri 13-Feb-26 10:17:27

Oreo

I haven’t seen anything that warrants taking the thread down, so am mystified .

I could tell you what I think, but they'd take the thread down .....

Opal Fri 13-Feb-26 10:18:38

Wyllow3

*Just to make this clear, as discussing another thread WILL get this deleted
I reported my own O/P immediately to check it was OK. Please can we stay with the subject from this post on*

This is our chance to speak upon JimRadcliffes words and the fall out.

That's what I was doing on my thread, but it was deleted.

Casdon Fri 13-Feb-26 10:21:21

Opal

Oreo

I haven’t seen anything that warrants taking the thread down, so am mystified .

I could tell you what I think, but they'd take the thread down .....

Do you understand the rules of Gransnet Opal? Either you or somebody else on your thread must have said something that was not within the Gransnet guidelines, that’s the only reason the thread would have been deleted. It’s not dependent on who reports it, but on whether the admins think it breaks them.

Wyllow3 Fri 13-Feb-26 10:22:27

1960srelic

I agree with Wyllow. I've seen many health professionals in recent years and almost all are immigrants. I'm very grateful to all of them.

I had a recent hospital stay and cannot express my gratitude enough for the kindness that many recent incomers have especially I have noticed respect for older people becuase in their culture of origin families do look after their own, however poor they are.
Also enjoyed some conversations about similarities and differences of culture. Life is full of interest if you are curious, not a grumbler.

Sago Fri 13-Feb-26 10:26:03

“The owner of one of the world's largest chemical companies, Ineos, said: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in.”

I totally agree with him.

Although I would go as far as to use the word invaded rather than colonised.

Oreo Fri 13-Feb-26 10:27:38

Hold onto your hat Wyllow3 as this thread may whoosh off at any time 😲🎩