Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has expressed his belief to Sky News that Britain is prepared for a change in government, criticizing the Conservatives for their management of the economy and immigration post-Brexit. While emphasizing that his petrochemicals conglomerate INEOS remains apolitical, Sir Jim supported Brexit and recently spent time with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at Manchester United, a football club he partly owns. In an exclusive interview, Sir Jim expressed confidence in Starmer’s ability to lead the country, stating that it may be time for a change in government as many in the country feel the same way.
Sir Jim, who was a prominent supporter of Brexit in the 2016 referendum, now voices concerns about how Brexit has been handled by Tory prime ministers. He believes that Brexit was primarily about controlling immigration, as the influx of people was straining essential services in the UK. Sir Jim also criticized the Conservatives for their handling of the economy, highlighting the need for growth and competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.
Despite his involvement with Labour and his ownership of a stake in Manchester United, Sir Jim maintains that INEOS is apolitical and solely focused on promoting a successful manufacturing sector in the UK. He continues to advocate for public funds to revitalize Old Trafford and its surroundings, despite facing challenges in garnering political support for the project. El Sir Keir fue alojado en el estadio para un partido de la Premier League el fin de semana pasado justo cuando la lluvia fuerte expuso la fragilidad del antiguo lugar.
“Hay un caso muy bueno, en mi opinión, para tener un estadio del Norte, que serviría a la parte norte del país en ese ámbito del fútbol”, dijo Sir Jim. “Si miras la cantidad de Ligas de Campeones que ha ganado el Noroeste, son 10. Londres ha ganado dos.
“Y sin embargo, todos del Norte tienen que bajar a Londres para ver un gran partido de fútbol. Y debería haber uno [un gran estadio] en el Norte, en mi opinión.
“Pero también es importante para el lado sur de Manchester, sabes, regenerarse.
“Es una especie de segunda capital del país donde comenzó la Revolución Industrial.
“Pero si tienes un proyecto de regeneración, necesitas un núcleo o un proyecto de regeneración y tener ese estadio de clase mundial allí, creo que proporcionaría el ímpetu para regenerar esa región.”