Manchester Mayor Condemns Billionaire's Immigrant Comments

Burnham calls Ratcliffe's remarks "inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory"

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has strongly criticized comments made by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe about immigrants, calling them "inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory" and saying they go against the city's values of diversity and inclusion.

Why it matters

As a prominent business leader and potential political candidate, Ratcliffe's views on immigration could have significant influence. Burnham's rebuke aims to counter Ratcliffe's comments and reaffirm Manchester's reputation as a welcoming, multicultural city.

The details

Ratcliffe, the founder of chemical company Ineos and one of Britain's wealthiest individuals, recently made comments suggesting that immigrants were a drain on public services. Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said Ratcliffe's remarks "go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood."

  • Ratcliffe made the controversial comments on February 10, 2026.

The players

Andy Burnham

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, who condemned Ratcliffe's comments as inaccurate and inflammatory.

Jim Ratcliffe

The billionaire founder of chemical company Ineos, who made controversial comments about immigrants that Burnham criticized.

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What they’re saying

“These comments go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood”

— Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News)

The takeaway

Burnham's strong rebuke of Ratcliffe's remarks underscores Manchester's commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the potential political risks for business leaders who make inflammatory statements about immigration.