Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe comes under fire after attacking new technology minister Michelle Donelan for being ‘only 38’ and not having a science degree

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe said Michelle Donelan was the wrong fit to lead the department
• He describe her as a history and politics graduate who is ‘only 38’

Billionaire tax exile Sir Jim Ratcliffe was last night urged to use his vast wealth to help young entrepreneurs rather attacking the new science minister.

Britain’s richest man, the chairman of chemicals giant Ineos, insisted that Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan was not the right person to lead the department.

Monaco-based Sir Jim, 70, describe her as a history and politics graduate who is ‘only 38’ and said the Government ‘surely has to be kidding’.

But sources close to the minister hit back, saying he should use his experience and ‘release some of the wealth he has tied up in Monaco’ to inspire young entrepreneurs ‘who don’t necessarily hold science degrees’.

They called his intervention ‘strange’ and said Ms Donelan had hoped to work closely with the tycoon. Sir Jim, who is worth £6billion made his comments in a letter to The Times in which he welcomed the creation of the new department.

 Sir Jim Ratcliffe said Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan (pictured) was not the right person to lead the department

Ms Donelan was previously culture secretary and universities minister. Sir Jim has formally entered the process to buy Manchester United. His firm has invested over £500million in shale gas exploration and has recently backed a hydrogen fund with £25million. 

Steel workers yesterday responded angrily to new Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch after she appeared to question the industry’s future, saying: ‘Nothing is ever a given.’

Roy Rickhuss, of the Community union, said Tory PMs had previously promised to back the industry, adding: ‘Losing our proud steel industry and the tens of thousands of jobs it provides…will be nothing short of betrayal.’

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