INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe reacts on stage during the inauguration of the Greensand carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Esbjerg, Denmark, on September 18, 2026. Greensand is the first project in the European Union designed to demonstrate a full CCS value chain, including the capture, transport and storage of carbon dioxide in depleted oil and gas reservoirs beneath the North Sea. (Photo by Bo Amstrup / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images) / Denmark OUT
INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe reacts on stage during the inauguration of the Greensand carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Esbjerg, Denmark, on September 18, 2026. Greensand is the first project in the European Union designed to demonstrate a full CCS value chain, including the capture, transport and storage of carbon dioxide in depleted oil and gas reservoirs beneath the North Sea. (Photo by Bo Amstrup / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images) / Denmark OUT
Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe claims the UK ‘is on the slide’ and has warned that the country could face a gas shortage this winter.
The 73-year-old billionaire, who owns petrochemicals giant Ineos, believes the government’s failure to tackle immigration and ‘the benefits problem’ has put the UK in decline.
Ratcliffe, who was born in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, and now resides in Monaco, believes that ‘the UK has got a bit of a green eye towards wealth’, which is driving people away from the country.
Earlier this month, hedge fund billionaire Chris Rokos, Britain’s third largest taxpayer who paid £330 million last year, announced that he is leaving the UK for Greece.
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‘I think the UK, unfortunately, it was a fantastic place,’ Ratcliffe said in an interview with the BBC.
‘We had the greatest empire in the world. We were a great people. We won two world wars. We’re good, honest folk.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Manchester United fans hold up a banner in protest during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Manchester United fans hold up a banner in protest during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
‘Unfortunately at the moment I think the UK is on the slide, and it’s quite difficult to see how we arrest it.
‘I think, ultimately, we need politicians… two things – we need politicians who are tough enough to deal with some very difficult problems, and we know what the problems are, and we need politicians who will make decisions which are good for the country, not good for themselves and their party. We haven’t had one of those for a long time.
[LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Joao Pedro of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Joao Pedro of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)](https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/18/joao-pedro-injury-update-ahead-brentford-vs-chelsea-29632670/)
‘Nobody is tough enough to deal with the immigration problem. Nobody is tough enough to deal with the benefits problem. But somebody needs to do it, otherwise it ends in a bad place, doesn’t it?’
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Ratcliffe also claimed that it was ‘insanity’ that the government has not invested heavily in North Sea oil and gas and warned that the UK could run out of gas this winter due to low storage levels.
‘If we have a really sharp cold spell, then there is conceivably the possibility that we’ll run out of gas and have to switch industry off… our storage is not full,’ Ratcliffe said.
In response to Ratcliffe’s claims, a government spokesperson said: ‘We have a diverse energy mix and are confident in our security of supply.’
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Chelsea's Spanish Manager Xabi Alonso gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on September 18, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Chelsea's Spanish Manager Xabi Alonso gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on September 18, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /