Adil Ray has waded into fresh controversy after launching a renewed attack on Sir Jim Ratcliffe, insisting Britain needs “more migrants” and accusing senior figures of fuelling “systemic racism”.
The ITV Good Morning Britain presenter took to BlueSky social media to double down on his criticism of the Manchester United co-owner, after the billionaire apologised for claiming the UK had been “colonised” by immigrants.
The Ineos founder had told Sky News: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.”
Following a backlash from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and senior political figures, Sir Jim said in a statement: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe.
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Adil Ray called out Sir Jim Ratcliffe
| PA“It is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.”
The Football Association is now examining whether the comments brought the game into disrepute under its regulations, while anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out branded the remarks “disgraceful and deeply divisive”.
Mr Ray had earlier labelled the billionaire an “embarrassment” and questioned whether migrants were “welcome to support his club”.
In one recent post Mr Ray wrote: “How long are we going to hear about ‘legitimate debates and concerns about immigration?’ It’s time we told the truth and deal with it. Net migration is low, we need more migrants, we are an ageing population."
Adil Ray said we need more migrants
|BLUESKY
He continued: "Highly skilled and low paid jobs are dependent on migrants. We need safe and legal routes.”
He followed up with another swipe at Mr Ratcliffe: “Apologising for causing offence to some people or all people means absolutely nothing without accepting your racism and privilege and changing it.
"We’ve heard it all before. A never ending cycle of systemic racism. Today it’s Jim, tomorrow it’s Bob. Nothing changes.”
In a third intervention, the broadcaster claimed racism in Britain extended beyond individuals.
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He wrote: “Racism in Britain isn’t just confined to the bloke in the pub or the distant uncle. In just the past months we have seen racism in politics, in media and now at the highest level of ‘the beautiful game’.
"Not the terraces. We can take the P word on the street, but racism in corridors is systemic.”
Fans of the TV star were quick to flood his comments with support.
"Please shout this out loudly!!!!!" one person wrote, while another commented: "Even my politically disinterested partner knew that was not an apology!"
Jim Ratcliffe apologised over claims Britain is colonised by migrants as backlash intensifies | SKYNEWSAnother wrote: "Funny how the people who keep calling for an open debate never shut up about telling us exactly what they think."
A fourth added: "Basically, he’s saying he’s sorry we’re not all racists too."
However, not everyone was in support of the presenter's comments.
"The cheek of Adil Ray, some of the rotten words that have come out of his mouth, him being upset, tells me that Jim Ratcliffe is very much onto something," wrote one critic.
Another penned: "Adil is the embarrassment."
"Well that tells me that Ratcliffe is in the right if he's being criticised by Ray," a third viewer wrote.