Arise Sir Jim Ratcliffe

[MNW67]

and the whole football world is turned upside down deeply offended. You are way more out of touch than he is if you think that has caused such a stir. OMG

You keep trying to put words in my mouth. I haven't said any of those things. My critique has always been that Ratcliffe's analysis was based on incorrect information. Whether he was talking about immigration and benefits or the decline of UK manufacturing. He made several schoolboy howlers.

 

[motorbiking]

6 million, not 9 million

You'll love this : AI says: in the United Kingdom, there were approximately 9.02 million economically inactive people aged 16 to 64 between September and November 2025

 

[MNW67]

You'll love this :

AI says:
in the United Kingdom, there were approximately 9.02 million economically inactive people aged 16 to 64 between September and November 2025

I know.

But only 6 million of those are claiming benefits.

 

[Munroast]

6.7 million foreign nationals in the UK, with 1.9 million claiming welfare, costing the British taxpayer £9 billion last year.

 

[motorbiking]

I know.

But only 6 million of those are claiming benefits.

Major Benefits and Participant Numbers
As of late 2025 and early 2026, the numbers for individual benefits are as follows:

Universal Credit (UC)	8.6 million	Replaces six "legacy" benefits; includes those in and out of work.
State Pension	13.1 million	Increased by 1.7% over the previous year.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)	3.9 million	For long-term health conditions or disabilities (England & Wales).
Housing Benefit	1.8 million	Numbers are falling as more households transition to UC.
Attendance Allowance	1.8 million	Support for those over state pension age with a disability.
Carer's Allowance	1.4 million	For people caring for someone at least 35 hours a week.

6.7 million foreign nationals in the UK, with 1.9 million claiming welfare, costing the British taxpayer £9 billion last year.

As of the 2021/2022 censuses, approximately
10.7 million people living in the UK were born abroad, representing about 16% of the total population.

I'm not arguing btw - it seems the numbers are all over the place depending on criteria

 

[motorbiking]

6.7 million foreign nationals in the UK, with 1.9 million claiming welfare, costing the British taxpayer £9 billion last year.

As of the 2021/2022 censuses, approximately
10.7 million people living in the UK were born abroad, representing about 16% of the total population.

 

[Highway Man]

You keep trying to put words in my mouth. I haven't said any of those things. My critique has always been that Ratcliffe's analysis was based on incorrect information. Whether he was talking about immigration and benefits or the decline of UK manufacturing. He made several schoolboy howlers.

Not trying to put words into your mouth at all, which words have I specifically tried to put into your mouth?

 

[MNW67]

As of late 2025 and early 2026, the numbers for individual benefits are as follows:

I know.

But only 6 million economically inactive people are claiming benefits. Rather than the 9 million he claimed.

 

[motorbiking]

I know.

But only 6 million economically inactive people are claiming benefits. Rather than the 9 million he claimed.

how do you know that?

Also what is economically inactive? Is that not working and living on investments?

I think we are getting in the weeds rather than addressing the point he made:

too many people are net benefiters and not enough are net contributors.

 

[MNW67]

Not trying to put words into your mouth at all, which words have I specifically tried to put into your mouth?

You seemed to be lumping me in with left wing people and football supporters who have been critical of his language. My own criticism was simply that, on pretty much every social topic he covered, he was massively wrong. And if his analysis is based on massively incorrect information, then it is obviously worthless.

 

[MNW67]

how do you know that?

Also what is economically inactive? Is that not working and living on investments?

I think we are getting in the weeds rather than addressing the point he made:

too many people are net benefiters and not enough are net contributors.

GIGO

If the data on which he based his analysis was massively wrong, then his analysis is worthless.

He should stick to bean counting, where he always seems to get the figures correct.

 

[motorbiking]

You seemed to be lumping me in with left wing people and football supporters who have been critical of his language. My own criticism was simply that, on pretty much every social topic he covered, he was massively wrong. And if his analysis is based on massively incorrect information, then it is obviously worthless.

Fundamentally, and forgetting the data points which are triggering you, do you think he made a valid point about:
- the rapidly changing demographics of the UK
- The problem with having too many net benefiters vs net contributors.

 

[Highway Man]

You seemed to be lumping me in with left wing people and football supporters who have been critical of his language. My own criticism was simply that, on pretty much every social topic he covered, he was massively wrong. And if his analysis is based on massively incorrect information, then it is obviously worthless.

Not in the least, I was trying to get you to say what has caused such a reaction amongst the MUFC supporters and the government saying he must apologise. I am sure it wasnt over the figures and the dates that you were quoting, so its a FAIL from yiou then and yet another WIN to me. Some say I am the greatest debater on the planet, I cannot disagree but it really is't for me to say, I am a very private person.

 

[MNW67]

Not in the least, I was trying to get you to say what has caused such a reaction amongst the MUFC supporters and the government saying he must apologise.

I don't know because I am not one of them.

 

[pete01]

6.7 million foreign nationals in the UK, with 1.9 million claiming welfare, costing the British taxpayer £9 billion last year.

OMG thats terrible