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

How disappointing that quite a few on here felt there was nothing wrong with what he said, or how he said it.

So many older folk setting such a poor example for the youth of this country. No wonder bigotry and racism raises its ugly head once more.

Some people have always felt it and were too embarrassed to say it, but now the likes of Ratcliffe, Farage and their ilk have emboldened them.

I don't think I'll waste any more time on this forum when so many exhibit these unreconstructed views.

Goodbye. I'm off for some fresher air.

LemonJam

Opal 15.27 : Just watching the news - three muslims have been sentenced for plotting to attack Jews in Manchester. Why are we putting up with this on our streets? We're in the UK, not the bloody Middle East. If they want to live here, in a Western civilisation, with all the rights and privileges that entails, then sign up to our laws when you move here. If not, go back to your country or origin and wage your war there".

Well we're not putting up with terrorism acts here in the UK are we? They were not from the Middle East as far as I am aware. One I do know was originally from Tunisia and married a British woman from memory. These terrorists did in fact sign up to our laws- they were arrested and jailed for life before carrying out any attack- a testament to our wonderful UK security services. The privileges and rights of these terrorists were taken away from them before they carried out their crime, for plotting their crime and have been on remand in prison since arrest. They mostly likely will be deported back to their countries of origin in due course.

Terrorism happens in most countries around the world.

There are also no doubt UK born terrorists operating in other countries around the world who will also be subject to the laws of whatever country they are residing in at the time of criminal activity. Do you know the number or names of UK terrorists that have gone to other countries to commit terrorist acts- if so let the relevant security services know

I am unclear how the "terrorist acts" of these individuals can be fairly applied to immigrants as a whole.

At last, an informed and intelligent comment.

The point is those who agree with him don’t think. At least their thoughts are not based on facts or intelligent analysis. Scary

He wasn't saying what I think either Paperbackwriter. Anyone who reads newspapers and or listens to the news would also realise what he actually said was incorrect and inaccurate. You can agree with what he said but you have no basis for asserting what he said about "what most of us think". Many have called him out on it and I'm not sure what measurement you are using and who forms the "us" group you are referring to.

'Most of us'? No, count me out.
Think he is a complete hypocrite.

aanncc

I don’t think he was racist at all Just saying as it is and what most of us think.

You will get absolutely jumped on! I think you are absolutely right!

aanncc

I don’t think he was racist at all Just saying as it is and what most of us think.

Speak for yourself. He wasn't saying anything that I think, thank you.

pably15

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

There are an awful lot of what you might call 'indigenous' people here who do absolutely sod all as well.

orly

Sago

“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.

I agree. My ex-Marine brother in law while working post service as a weapons instructor in the Middle East was told by one of his "students" "We don't need to invade your country because we will own it 100 years"

Well, I remember being told at secondary school by a Roman Catholic girl that RCs had big families so that they would become in the majority in Britain,

That was 60+ years ago. It hasn't happened yet...

Young people do say silly things...

Galaxy

Yes immigrants shouldn't be allowed to hold views on immigration that differ to yours.
This is sarcasm again

yes, The lowest form of wit!

So do I

Well said! The hypocrisy of the man is breathtaking

4allweknow
I don't think the reference was intended to cover all immigrants, suspect it was reference to those who arrive with none of the necessary skills we need or illegals.

No different to the mobs touring our communities wearing the national flag like capes and screaming at asylum hotels then.

These hooligans cannot distinguish between immigrants/illegal immigrants/asylum seekers either.

I'd assume nothing - if he chooses to speak publically then he needs to say what he means accurately. I think he said what he meant and aligned himself to the racist mobs blighting our communities and now turning their anger on the RNLI for heavens sake. For sure, they are aligning themselves to him!

aanncc

I don’t think he was racist at all Just saying as it is and what most of us think.

If only ‘thinking’ had something to do with it 😂

I don't think the reference was intended to cover all immigrants, suspect it was reference to those who arrive with none of the necessary skills we need or illegals. His own football team has a few "immigrant" players on work visas as do many other sports.

aanncc

I wonder why he didn’t express his disapproval of Britain colonising about a quarter of the Earth’s land area? Does he have no view on Britain taking land in Africa, Australia, North America, Asia, New Zealand?

His use of the word ‘colonising’ in this context is highly inaccurate and clearly has huge racist overtones to instil fear and division.

Do some of those who think his words are all right even u destined what colonise means? A simple explanation below.

Colonise: to take over a country that is not yours, using force, and to exert political and cultural control over it

I don’t think he was racist at all Just saying as it is and what most of us think.

At a random guess I suspect if we removed all gransnetters who have an immigrant background, we’d have very few gransnetters. So many descendants from an Irish and Italian heritage before we start going through more recent waves of migrants (or even more ancient ones). Yaxley Lennon who is always banging on about immigrants has an Irish mother. Trump has a Scottish mother. Elon Musk is South African. So many Brits moved to settle in Australia, Spain, France and let’s not forget Monaco.

What is so transparent to most of us is that the methods the Right Wing acolytes of Farage are using is just the same as Trump who copied Adolf! Have we learned nothing from history.

Yes, he is a fund grabbing, tax avoiding, immigrant hypocrite.

Lemonjam. I totally agree with the methods of the Right Wing throughout history. Blame the minority, those least able to defend themselves, stir up animosity between communities and create fear of the stranger.
I despair when I hear of people talking about ‘undocumented people’ ‘fighting age’ people to describe groups. And to hear the sweeping assumption that all males in ‘asylum hostels’ are paedophiles. If we could learn anything from the illustrious team of Epstein, Prince Andrew and Trump it is that all the documentation or known lineage in the world does not provide women with safety!

MaizieD

^Most people in my experience do agree with sundowngirl, that is why Reform are surging in the polls.^

Far from 'surging in the polls' Reform is actually slightly down and flatlining at the moment. Perhaps it's reached it's peak.
Farage is also the second least popular party leader, just below Starmer.

You probably just live in an echo chamber. Most people I know detest Farage and Reform. It means nothing really.

We will have to wait and see what happens in the local elections. Should be interesting.

Think a few of us agree with his overall comments but it was very clumsily put

it is quite interesting coming from him who immigrated to Monaco.. why does he care when he doesn't even live here

Let us be clear that this man got all his figures completely wrong! He had taken money from us as tax payers to support his industry! He does not pay tax in this country and his language , rhetoric was entirely unjustified ! I live in a very multicultural city where many people have worked hard, paid their taxes, contributed to all walks of life ! It is by no means perfect , nowhere is! However, what really concerns me is that many on the thread accepted his words without considering the consequences or even challenging his remarks ! I thought , as women, we had higher values! I was wrong ! Many contributors on here really disappoint me in their comments and nasty ideologies !!

orly, how many of our essential services are at this point in time owned by foreigners?
So, in that way, we are already owned by outsiders.
Who allowed that to happen? Who sold off our essential services?