Official statistics have corrected claims made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding the UK population and benefit claimants. In an interview with Sky News, Sir Jim stated that the UK population had grown from 58 million in 2020 to 70 million, an increase of 12 million. However, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows the population was 66.7 million in mid-2020 and reached just under 69.5 million by mid-2025, an increase of nearly 2.8 million.
The UK population last stood at 58 million in mid-1995, not 2020, and has grown by 12 million since mid-1991. Sir Jim also claimed that there were nine million people on benefits, but Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) figures show 8.4 million universal credit claimants in Britain as of December 2025, with an additional 233,170 in Northern Ireland, totalling at least 8.6 million across the UK.
Universal credit is the main means-tested benefit, replacing older benefits like income support and jobseeker's allowance. Of the 8.4 million claimants in Britain, 2.2 million were in work, while 4.2 million were not required to work due to reasons such as full-time education, caring responsibilities, or health issues. A further 1.5 million were actively seeking work.
Data on immigration status shows that 84.3% of universal credit claimants are British or Irish nationals or have no immigration restrictions. EU Settlement Scheme holders account for 9.2%, while 2.6% have indefinite leave to remain, and 1.5% are refugees. Only 0.9% have limited leave to remain, indicating temporary immigration status.
